Surname Tonzing - Meaning and Origin
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Tonzing: What does the surname Tonzing mean?
Tonzing is a surname of German origin. It is derived from the word tönend, which means "resounding, sounding". The Tonzing surname first appeared during the 14th century in Germany, when people began to adopt hereditary surnames. The earliest known bearer of the name was one Mathes Tonczing, who was mentioned in the Codex Laureshamensis, a legal document from around 1318.
Today, the Tonzing surname can be found all over the world. This is due to the migrations that occurred throughout the centuries as people responded to economic or political needs. The Tonzing surname is especially common in the United States, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In the US, it is estimated that there are currently approximately 14,000 people bearing the Tonzing surname.
The Tonzing surname is most likely derived from someone with a speaking voice that was particularly strong and resonant, thereby the nickname “Tönend,” and its derivative, Tonzing. Alternately, the name may have been a habitational name, which would have been derived from the name of a place where the original bearer of the name might have lived or held land.
The Tonzing surname is an interesting one, with a long and varied history. It is interesting to note that the name has been in use for centuries, and is still in use all over the world today.
Order DNA origin analysisTonzing: Where does the name Tonzing come from?
The last name Tonzing is most common in the West African country of Angola. It is the 105th most popular surname in Angola according to WorldNames. Other African countries where Tonzing is found include Mozambique and South Africa.
In North America, the Tonzing surname appears to be predominant in the United States. Census records in 1990, 2000, and 2017 show that the Tonzing family name was mainly popular in Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. It is possible that many of these people trace their ancestry back to Angola and other African countries they may have emigrated from or have family members from.
Within the United States, the Tonzing last name appears to have the most popularity in California, Arizona, and Washington. In California alone, a total of 349 people with the last name Tonzing were recorded in the 2000 US Census, and in 2017, there were an additional 481 people with the last name Tonzing.
Given the large concentration of the Tonzing surname in North America, especially in the US, it is likely that there are also many descendants of the original Tonzing family living in Americas today.
Variations of the surname Tonzing
Tonzing is a unique surname that can be spelled in many ways, including Tonczing, Tonzinger, Tonzingen, and Tunzingen. It may also appear with various prefixes, such as Van, Von, De, and De la.
The surname Tonzing is derived from the Middle High German word “tonc” which means “a corner or nook.” As such, Tonzing originally denoted those who lived near a corner or nook. It is likely that the family originated in what is now Austria, Bavaria, or Switzerland.
Variants of the surname Tonzing include Tanzing and Dansing. These are derived from the plural forms of “tonc,” which are “tanz” and “dans.” In addition, Tonzing may be found as Dongen, Donger, and Dunken. These spellings are derived from the Middle High German word for “dungeon.” It is believed that Tonzing family members may have have lived in a dungeon or near a dungeon.
The surname Tonzing may also have evolved from the French word “tontons,” which means “uncles.” This variant may have come about through intermarriage with French families.
As the Tonzing name spread across Europe, various spellings came into use. The original versions in different countries are Tonczer, Tonczuk, and Tonczony in Poland; Tunziger in Switzerland; Toenczyszyn in Ukraine; and Tonzini in Italy.
Famous people with the name Tonzing
- Peter Tonzing: He is a German Director of Photography who has worked on a range of projects from music videos to features films.
- Robert Tonzing: A German business executive and chairman of General Logistics Systems (GLS). Robert has worked for multiple companies across Europe.
- Osi Tonzing: A multi-instrumentalist from Nigeria and film composer. He has composed soundtracks for multiple independent and international projects.
- Stefan Tonzing: German entrepreneur and author. He currently runs the business-investment firm, "ACK Ventures GbR".
- Gustav Paul Tonzing: Austrian architect and civil engineer. He was the chief architect of Rudolph Brunner's company and also designed the Viennese fish market.
- Josephine Tonzing: Austrian professional snowboarder. She is the 2007 Austrian snowboarding champion and her signature trick is a side 180 nose grab.
- Tom Tonzing: German actor. He has acted in multiple films and TV shows, including Hail Caesar!, »live life and be complicated«and The Eichbaums' Business.
- Philip Tonzing: German entrepreneur and business leader. He is the founder & CEO of "Culture Stream", a video streaming and content production company.
- John Tonzing: American composer and producer. He has worked on multiple feature films, soundtracks and television series in multiple capacities.