Surname Königer - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Königer: What does the surname Königer mean?
The last name Königer is a German surname derived from the Old German word “König" which means "king". The Königer surname is relatively common in German-speaking regions of Europe and is likely a name originating from feudal times, when many families in Germany had titles associated with them.
The root of the Königer surname is most likely related to a former German nobleman or knight. The surname was originally associated with families of high social standing and most likely originated as a descriptor to distinguish those families with established wealth from others within their community.
Throughout Germanic regions, the surname has began to be Anglicized to its modern-day equivalent – Kinger. In some instances, Kinger can also be seen abbreviated as Kngr.
The name Königer is often found in German Empire noble families and those living in German cities such as Berlin, Hamburg and Düsseldorf.
The most likely origin of the Königer surname is as a non-hereditary title granted to a distinguished man of the German upper class during the Middle Ages. This man was likely granted the title of Königer in recognition or rewards for his actions in the fields of politics, military or trade. Consequently, the title has been passed down through the generations of the grantee’s descendants.
Today, the Königer name carries on the legacy of the families that proudly bore the name and continue to bring honor to its original bearer.
Order DNA origin analysisKöniger: Where does the name Königer come from?
Königer is a German surname that is common today primarily in Germany and Austria. It is also found in small concentrations in countries and areas that were formerly part of the German-speaking world, such as Alsace, Luxembourg and Hungary. In addition, Königer can be found across the United States today, due to various historical immigrant groups. Immigrants from Germany, Austria and other German-speaking countries, many of them likely Königers, first started arriving in the United States in the 1600s and the population has continued to grow. According to the United States Census, Königer is the 3,008th most common surname in the United States today. It is also the 1,546th most common name in Germany. Königer is a name that remains tied to its German origins even as it continues to spread to increasingly diverse areas around the globe.
Variations of the surname Königer
Königer is a German surname, originating from the Old Norse name Konungr meaning ‘king’. Variations and spellings for this surname include Koniger, Koeniger, Koeiger, Koniger, Konigr, Koeniger, Konnaiger, Koeingr, Koninger, and many more.
The most common spelling of the name is Königer, however, in many English speaking countries, the spelling of the name is often changed to Koeniger. This is because of the difference in German spelling rules and the English rules. The surname Königer is usually found in various parts of Germany including Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg, and Hessen.
Königer can also be found in other countries around the world due to immigration, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Austria, Switzerland, and Belgium. Thus, the surname can be spelled differently in different countries, depending on the spelling rules of each country. For example, Koeniger is usually found in the United States, whereas Köninger is usually found in Austria.
Furthermore, Königer is often mispronounced, especially in English speaking countries. For example, it may be pronounced as Kay-niger, Kon-niger, Ky-neger, Kon-i-ger, or Koe-niger.
Other surname variants found in different countries include Kiniger, Koeing, Kounger, Kniger, Koenenburg, Koeinga, Koonenburg, Koninga, Kannberg, Kannenberg, Künig, Kunig, Kingen, and Konino. These variants are also derived from the same root meaning ‘king’.
Overall, Königer is an old German surname meaning ‘king’, with numerous spellings and variants found in various countries around the world.
Famous people with the name Königer
- Kurt Königer (1876–1940), German Celticist
- Victor Königer (1877–1964), Norwegian military officer
- Willy Koniger (1890–1975), German architect
- Thomas Koniger (born 1970) German painter
- Marcel König (born 1968), German diplomat
- Karl Koniger (1837–1915), German physicist
- Andreas Koniger (born 1984), German businessman
- Margaret König (1889–1963), Austrian aviator
- Joachim Koniger (born 1934), Austrian Olympic rower
- Hansjoachim Koniger (1925–2005), German composer
- August Königer (1879–1970), German policeman
- Günther Königer (1913–1992), German artist
- Egon Königer (1896–1981), German engineer
- Lotte Königer (1934–2004), German artist
- Rebecca Königer (born 1985), German actress
- Rudolf Königer (1911–2006), German field hockey player
- Kari König (1929–2006), Finnish soccer player
- Annemarie König (born 1932), Austrian diplomat
- Monika Königer (born 1952), German sociologist
- Hans Koniger, German historian