Surname Kienzl - Meaning and Origin
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Kienzl: What does the surname Kienzl mean?
The last name Kienzl is of German origin and is believed to be derived from the ancient word "Kühn" meaning brave or bold. This could refer to the person's personality or physical appearance. Historically, Kienzl is thought to have originally been a nickname for a courageous individual, or it could have been a toponymic name derived from a place.
The origin of the Kienzls can be traced back to Lower Saxony, where the name was first found in some of the earliest records of the region. In the Middle Ages, Kienzl was more commonly found in the area known today as the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, as well as in other parts of Germany.
Today, the Kienzl surname is found in many countries across the world, indicating that the family has moved around over the years. The spelling of the name can vary from country to country, but is generally pronounced "kee-huhn-zuhl." The variation in spelling could also indicate that different branches of the same family came from distinct areas with distinct dialects.
Many Kienzls today are still found in Germany, but there are also pockets of Kienzls in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The Kienzl surname is an endearing reminder of the family's history and a testament to the courage, ambition, and resilience of the Kienzls.
Order DNA origin analysisKienzl: Where does the name Kienzl come from?
The last name Kienzl is most commonly found in Germany today. It can also be found throughout Europe, particularly in Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Sweden.
In Germany, Kienzl is a moderately common name with around 3,000 individuals recorded as holding the name in the year 2020. The highest concentrations are in the Berlin area where there are an estimated over 1,500 Kienzls. The states of Bavaria and Lower Saxony also hold high concentrations, each having an estimated population of over 500 Kienzls.
Beyond Germany, Kienzl is typically a more sparsely distributed name. A number of Kienzls are still recorded in Austria, even though the concentration is much lower than in Germany. In 2020, there were an estimated 145-165 Kienzls recorded as living in Austria. A slightly higher concentration of Kienzls can be found in the Czech Republic, with an estimated population of 195.
Smaller populations of the name Kienzl can also be found further afield. Sweden is home to an estimated 25 people with the name Kienzl, and there are scattered individuals found in Russia, Hungary, Slovakia, Belgium, Poland, and the UK.
Variations of the surname Kienzl
Kienzl is an Austrian surname, derived from the Germanic word 'kian' and the popular suffix '-zal,' indicating an occupation. The lineage is believed to have originated in Bavaria or Tyrol in Austria. It is relatively uncommon and can be spelled a few different ways. The most common variants include Kienzle, Kienzel, Kienzler, Kienzl, Kienzell and Kienzal.
The first recorded spelling of the Kienzl surname was in 1272, when a Johannes Kinzal was recorded in the 'Medieval German Research' register. It is also registered as being in Baden-Wurttemberg in 1317, under the name Teutloff Kienzal.
The popularity of the surname grew largely due to the influence of the Kienzel name which was associated with the Imperial German family of Indan Anspoc Extel in the 18th century. This family had migrated to the Habsburg-Austrian region from Tyrol. It had become quite popular in this region and it is believed that this is where variations on the spelling of the name started to appear.
The Kienzel and Kienzl spelling variants are most popular today in North America and Western Europe. The Kienzal variant is also very popular in Austria and Germany. The Kienzle variant is particularly common today in Germany, Austria and Austria in particular. To some extent, the popularity and usage of the surname depends on the region, so someone of the same name may spell it differently depending on where they come from.
Despite the variations, all spellings of Kienzl undoubtedly share the same origin.
Famous people with the name Kienzl
- Wilhelm Kienzl: Wilhelm Kienzl was an Austrian composer of operettas whose works debuted in 1885. Kienzl's music was known for its strong mixture of national and political elements.
- Gilbert Kienzl: Gilbert Kienzl was a German opera singer and impresario. He is known for his tenor roles in works by Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner, including Lohengrin and Tannhäuser, among many others.
- Paula Kienzl: Paula Kienzl was a German stage and film actress who was active in Germany during the early to mid-20th century. Her most notable films include Unter den Brücken and Flare Path.
- Richard von Kienzl: Richard von Kienzl was an Austrian composer, musicologist and writer. His works include operas, choral works, symphonic works and several incidental music for plays.
- Hermann Kienzl: Hermann Kienzl was an Austrian dramatist, composer and lawyer. He was known for writing noted operettas, including Die Robertemüllerin, and was part of the Second Vienna School of Music.
- Johannes Kienzl: Johannes Kienzl was a German sculptor and painter. His most famous works were metal sculptures which often featured figures from the well-known fairy tale of the same name, The Pied Piper of Hamelin.
- Walther Kienzl: Walther Kienzl was a German pianist, teacher, and composer. Along with his operettas and symphonic works, Kienzl wrote a great number of lieder, which were known for their melodic character.
- Leonhard Kienzl: Leonhard Kienzl, also known as Leo Kienzl, was a German actor and theatre manager. He was most active during the Weimar Republic era and is known for, amongst other roles, playing Gomez in the original Werich/Feyder production of Die Sündflut.