Surname Kym - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Kym: What does the surname Kym mean?
The last name Kym is of English origin. However, it's not common and doesn't have a specific known meaning. It may have been derived from the feminine first name Kim, which is short for Kimberley. In Old English, Kimberley means "Cyneburg's meadow", Cyneburg being an Old English female personal name and "ley" meaning a clearing or meadow. But the direct meaning of the surname Kym is unclear. It may also be of Korean origin where it is romanized as Kim, which means "gold". It is one of the most common surnames in Korea.
Order DNA origin analysisKym: Where does the name Kym come from?
The surname Kym is of Korean origin; it is a transliteration of the Korean surname that's often spelt as "Kim" in English. Kim is the most common surname in Korea, representing a significant part of both North and South Korea's population. It originated from the ancient kingdom of Goguryeo, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. The name was derived from the Chinese character 金 meaning 'gold'.
Despite its Korean roots, the alternative spelling, Kym, is not very common in Korea. The variation likely arose from the efforts to phonetically translate Korean names into English. The surname in its Kym form may be more prevalent among Korean diasporas. As a surname, one can find it being used in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, among others, wherever there are Korean immigrants. Nevertheless, it isn’t the most common form and is considerably less widespread than its Kim counterpart. The usage of Kym is also sometimes noted as a feminine given name in some Western cultures, but its occurrences in this form should not be confused with its use as a Korean surname.
Variations of the surname Kym
The surname Kym may have different variants and spellings based on its origin and cultural adaptations. This includes Kim, Kimm, Kyme, Kyhm, Kymme, Kiem, Kem, and Keim. It can also be modified based on the regional significance such as Kymi in Finnish, or Kým in certain Slavic languages.
The surname Kim, a popular Korean surname meaning "Gold," is considered a variant of Kym in some instances.
When considering a broader origin base, some German or Swiss-German surnames such as Kümmer, Kümme, Kümmel could also be related. In English, it may be associated with names like Kemb or Kemp.
The spelling can also be affected by translation between languages and changes in alphabets. For example, the name might be spelled Khym or Khim in Russian, or Qym in Arabic.
As for the cognates or those names of the same origin, they might differ significantly due to linguistic changes and geographical or cultural variations over time.
It's important to note that the range of possible variants and spellings is vast, and the connection with a certain surname might not be immediately obvious without substantial genealogical research.
Famous people with the name Kym
- Kym Marsh: is an English actress and former singer and model, best known for her work on the soap opera Coronation Street as Michelle Connor.
- Kym Whitley: is an American comedian and actress. She is best known for starring on sitcoms such as Young & Hungry, The Parkers and Morehouse College.
- Kym Johnson : is an Australian professional ballroom dancer and television personality. She is best known for appearing as a professional dancer on the popular TV series Dancing with the Stars.
- Kym Brown: is an Australian MMA fighter, having competed in Cage Fighting Championships and the Bellator Fighting Championships.
- Kym Riley: is an English actress, best known for appearing in the BBC soap opera Doctors.
- Kym Monteiro: is a Trinidadian singer and songwriter who released her debut album entitled Kym Salone.
- Kym Thompson: is a Jamaican model, beauty queen, and Miss Jamaica 2020 contestant.
- Kym Ellery: is an Australian fashion designer who has been producing her own collections since 2008.
- Kym Ryder: is an English actress. She is best known for playing the role of Michelle Connor in the soap opera Coronation Street.
- Kym Bergmann: is a American journalist and penologist, best known for his work with various publications, including Psychology Today, The Washington Times and GlobalSecurity.org.