Surname Kone - Meaning and Origin
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Kone: What does the surname Kone mean?
The surname Kone is predominantly found in West Africa, particularly in countries such as Mali and Ivory Coast. The name is derived from the Malinké people, a large Mande ethnic group found primarily in West Africa. In some languages in this region, "Kone" means 'hunter’. This might suggest that the ancestors of people carrying this surname were hunters by trade. The surname Kone was passed down through generations and holds a significant cultural heritage and importance in West African societies. A famous person with this surname is Yaya Toure Kone, a professional footballer from Ivory Coast who is often known by his middle name.
Order DNA origin analysisKone: Where does the name Kone come from?
The last name Kone is of African origin, particularly from West African countries like Mali, Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso. The name is common among the Mande ethnic groups which includes the Bambara people and is given to those who belong to the blacksmith caste. Kone in the Bambara-Malinke language means "kings of metal" or "blacksmith".
Today, the surname Kone remains common in West Africa, especially in Mali, Ivory Coast, and also in Guinea. It has been spread to other parts of the world through migration. Therefore, people bearing this surname can be found in various countries outside Africa, including France, due to historical connections between West Africa and France. Furthermore, instances of the last name can be found in the United States and in other Western countries, particularly among African diaspora communities.
Variations of the surname Kone
The surname Kone originates from multiple regions across the world like Africa, especially West Africa (particularly in Ivory Coast and Mali), Finland and Eastern Europe, each having unique derivations and spellings.
In West Africa, it's believed to be a patronymic name derived from the Mandingo word 'Konè', a common name given to the second son in a family. Variations include Konate, Koné, Koneh, or Konneh.
In the Finnish context, Kone translates to "machine" in English and might not have many significant variants as a surname.
Furthermore, Kone might also be an Eastern European name (like Czech), where it's pronounced as 'Kon-eh'. This could also be potentially linked to the Konie, Koni or Konas families of Polish and Lithuanian origins.
Lastly, the Kone surname could also be linked to the Koene family from the Dutch and Low German regions, and potentially to the Cohen or Kohen Jewish surnames, based on phonetic similarity.
As a surname, Kone is commonly associated with individuals of African descent, particularly West African, and less frequently individuals from Europe. This suggests a possible cultural or regional variation in spelling, pronunciation, and origin.
Famous people with the name Kone
- Arouna Kone: Ivorian professional footballer who has played for clubs like Wigan Athletic and Everton and represented the Ivory Coast at international level.
- Bakary Kone: Burkinabé professional footballer who is currently playing for Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters FC as a central defender.
- Djené Dakonam Ortega, commonly known as Djené, is a Togolese professional footballer who plays for Spanish club Getafe CF and the Togo national team.
- Issa Kone: Ivorian footballer, currently playing for Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biała.
- Lamine Koné: Ivorian footballer who plays for Cercle Brugge and the Ivory Coast national team.
- Yaya Koné: Ivorian professional footballer who is currently playing as a forward for the Ivorian club AS Tanda.
- Almamy Touré: Malian professional footballer who plays as a right back for AS Monaco.
- Mireille Kone: Ivorian runner who specializes in middle distance running.
- Moussa Koné: Senegalese professional footballer who plays as a forward for FC Zurich in the Swiss Super League.
- Kunlé Adeyemi: Nigerian architect, notable for his innovative designs across Africa and Europe. Each of these individuals have made a name for themselves in their respective fields, and are known within their communities for their contributions to sports and architecture.