Surname Kuenzler - Meaning and Origin
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Kuenzler: What does the surname Kuenzler mean?
The surname Kuenzler is a German surname, derived from the personal name Kunz, which itself originated from the Middle High German term "kuonze" meaning "bold".
The name may have been given to ancestors either as a descriptive nickname or as a personal name given in homage to a powerful ancestor, and is associated with a bold and noble personality. In early records, the surname Kuenzler was also sometimes used as a placeholder for an unknown name, indicating that the person was of noble origin.
The Kuenzler surname is particularly common among residents of southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Czechoslovakia, and is still found throughout the German-speaking region of the world today.
The meaning of the name can be extended to describe a proud and courageous person, and someone who is willing to take action boldly and without fear. It can also be used to illustrate a person of noble heritage, and someone who is devoted to their family and traditions.
Order DNA origin analysisKuenzler: Where does the name Kuenzler come from?
The last name Kuenzler is most common today in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The Germanic surname is derived from an old German word “kuoniz” or “koeniz”, which means "king". The name is found in records dating back to the Middle Ages and more specifically times of the Holy Roman Empire, where German nobles were termed “Königlichen” or “Könige” and later, “Kuenzler”.
Kuenzler predominately originates in Germany, and this can be seen with the majority of Kuenzlers living there today. According to the 1990 German census, there were more than 3,000 people with the Kuenzler name registered in the country. Today, it is still regarded as one of the most frequently used surnames in Germany.
In Austria, many input from Kuenzler’s of German origin has been noted in the late Middle Ages when they migrated from Bavaria towards the north-western regions. There has been a steady growth of families with the surname in Austria since then, with approximately 2,000 people of the Kuenzler name registered in the country in 1990.
In Switzerland, a few Kuenzlers have been noted since the 16th century. Today, this trend continues with a few families bearing the Kuenzler surname.
The Kuenzler surname is not particularly widespread outside of the German speaking countries of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, however, some descendants of the Kuenzler family have moved into other European counties, some parts of North America and other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Kuenzler
The surname Kuenzler is a German-language surname found mostly in Switzerland, Germany, and the United States. It is also known in other countries by various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
In Switzerland, the resettlement of the German-speaking Swiss and their family names created the variant spellings of Kuenzle and Kuenzl. In the United States, the immigration of German surname-bearing families created the Americanized spelling of Kuntzler, Kayzler, and Kaynzler.
In Germany, the relocated Swiss immigrants gave the Kuenzlers’ name the German spelling of Kunzler. Other variants of Kuenzler from Germany include Künzler and Künzli. A further variant from Germany is Kunz (sans -ler) and is found more commonly in North-Rhine Westphalia.
Although Kuenzler can be found throughout the United States, the peak of this surname in the US was in the mid-1800’s during the immigrations of Germanic families, and is currently concentrated in the Great Lakes region - Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois. Along with the Americanized spellings, you can also find variants such as Kuntzler, Kuntzle, Kuntzli, Kunzli, Kunzle, Konzli, Kinsler, and Künsler.
In all, the variant spellings and surnames of the same origin for Kuenzler include: Kuenzle, Kuenzl, Kuntzler, Kayzler, Kaynzler, Kunzler, Künzler, Künzli, Kuntzle, Kuntzli, Kunzli, Kunzle, Konzli, Kinsler, and Künsler.
Famous people with the name Kuenzler
- Dan Kuenzler, professional bodybuilder
- Ethan Kuenzler, Major League Baseball pitcher
- Carl Kuenzler, former professor at the University of Missouri and author
- Jerry Kuenzler, World War II veteran, recipient of several medals for heroism
- Tony Kuenzler, musician and multi-instrumentalist
- John Kuenzler, figure skater who won a bronze medal at the 1988 Olympics
- Molly Kuenzler, wildlife photographer and conservation advocate
- Rob Kuenzler, pioneer of extreme sports in North America
- John Kuenzler Jr., former Philadelphia Eagles player
- Joseph Kuenzler, silent film star who appeared in the western serial The Perils of Pauline
- Storm Kuenzler, entrepreneur and former professional kite surfer
- Jacob Kuenzler, professional cyclist.