Surname Kunce - Meaning and Origin
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Kunce: What does the surname Kunce mean?
The last name Kunce is of German-English origin. The name is derived from the Old English word "cync", meaning king. It is thought to have been a title of nobility conferred upon a member of certain families of Germanic origin.
Kunce is a rare but quite distinctive surname. It is a patronymic surname derived from the personal name Kunc, Kynke or Kune. Other variations of the name include Kunck, Kunze, Kums and Kunky. Records of the Kunce name first appear in England in the 14th and 15th centuries in many church records.
The Kunce family name is known to have lived in Essex, Lancashire, Norfolk, Nottingham, Suffolk, Wiltshire and Yorkshire counties in England, and in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and other states in the United States.
Kunce is thought to be an occupational name, indicating that originally the bearer of the name was engaged in some role or activity associated with kings. It is possible that early bearers of the surname were courtiers, royal messengers or bodyguards to royalty.
The Kunce surname has enormous social and historical value making it unique among last names. The members of this surname carry the legacy of a powerful lineage of rulers and leaders.
Order DNA origin analysisKunce: Where does the name Kunce come from?
The surname Kunce is most commonly found in German-speaking countries, primarily Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. It was often found in areas of Austria which border these countries and particularly in cities such as Vienna, Graz, and Salzburg. In German-speaking countries, the surname is often spelled Kunz or Kunze.
The surname Kunce is also found in regions throughout Slavic Europe, primarily in eastern Poland, western Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. It is often spelled Kuntse or Kuntsy in these regions and was originally taken from a Hungarian version of the German surname. The name is also recorded in Slovakia in the form of Kotunec.
Outside of Europe, the name Kunce is also found in the United States. It is believed to be a form of the Polish and Slovak variant surnames Kuntse or Kuntsy that many immigrants changed to Kunce when they emigrated to the United States. The surname is also very common in South America, particularly in Brazil and Argentina.
Overall, the surname Kunce is still quite common today, particularly in German-speaking countries and Slavic Europe, and is increasingly widespread further afield in countries such as the United States, Canada, Argentina and Brazil.
Variations of the surname Kunce
Kunce is a surname of German and Czech origin. Variants of the surname include Kunz, Kunze, Kunces, Kuntz and Kunts. Spellings of Kunce include Kúnce, Ku?ce, Kuhnce, Kuenze, Kiinze, Konce, Kunse and Konze.
This surname originated as a nickname for an individual of small stature, from the Olde German word "kunze" which means small. The surname Kunce can also be derived from the words “kunzelmann” which means “customer” or “message bearer” or “emissary”, and "kunci", an Old Slavic word which means “little” or “small”.
The popular German first name Kuno, which means brave, could have also evolved from the surname Kunce. Individuals with this surname Kunce are found mainly in the German region of Baden-Württemberg and other regions of Germany, as well Switzerland and Belgium.
In the English language, the surname evolved as Kuntz. It is found primarily in the United States of America and Canada, where immigrants with the surname settled in the 1800s. In addition to the Kunce variant, others of the same origin can include the surnames Kunze, Kidd, Kuntz, Kundz, Cupit, Kupit, Cuppit and Kunte.
The most popular variants of this surname in the United States are Kuntz and Kunz. The frequency of the surname Kunce in other countries such as Russia, Hungary, France, Poland, and Austria is low.
Famous people with the name Kunce
- Steve Kunce: A former Major League Baseball pitcher who last pitched in the big leagues in 1986
- Jenna Kunce: A professional dancer, who has had many small roles in television programs such as The Young and the Restless and Friends From College
- Katy Kunce: A contemporary realistic artist, who has exhibited her work throughout the United States
- Nanette Kunce: A former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, and briefly ran for congress in 2004
- Bill Kunce: An award winning sculptor, who is based in Austin, TX and specializes in figurative bronze sculpture
- Chris Kunce: A voice over artist, who has lent his voice to many commercials, video games, and TV shows
- Josh Kunce: A talented songwriter and producer who has worked with big-name pop acts such as Allstar Weekend, The Vamps, and Rachel Platten
- Gary Kunce: A plays and musicals stage director, who has produced many works at the historic Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C.
- David Kunce: A professional soccer player, who has played for clubs throughout the U.S. and in Europe
- Gabe Kunce: An award winning cinematographer, who is best known for his work on the television series Boardwalk Empire and House of Cards.