Surname Kissinger - Meaning and Origin

Kissinger: What does the surname Kissinger mean?

The last name Kissinger is of German origin and suggests that Kissinger was likely a person of importance in its original ancestral homeland. It is derived from the Middle High German küsse, meaning "well".

In olden days, the name Kissinger was associated with a title given to a wine producer or a merchant specialising in the sale of wine, indicating that someone in the Kissinger family was likely involved in the wine trade. Well-respected in agricultural communities, families who named themselves after their profession were sometimes also given an aristocratic-sounding title to honor them, such as Kissinger.

The surname Kissinger can also be found in other countries such as Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic where it is spelled Kisslinger.

Overall, the last name Kissinger still carries a strong connotation of prestige and respect today. It suggests that the Kissinger family likely had lots of influence and power within their ancestral community. This is why the name is still associated with greatness today and stands out in any setting.

Kissinger: Where does the name Kissinger come from?

Kissinger is a surname of German origin, stemming from the Middle High German word "küster," meaning "sexton" or church custodian. In modern times, people of the Kissinger family name can be found throughout Germany, particularly in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Rhineland-Palatinate. Outside of Germany, the name is most common in the United States, where it is ranked in the top 1,400 family names. In the United States, Kissinger is especially prevalent in Pennsylvania and New York, but is found in many other states as well. Several well-known individuals with this surname have contributed to American culture, including the late Henry Kissinger, former National Security Advisor to the early Nixon administration and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, and Robert D. Kissinger, Physicist at Lucas Labs and winner of a 2020 National Science Medal. For members of the Kissinger surname, a notable portion of the family tree and its history may be traced from the late 1500s to the present day through online resources such as familysearch.org.

Variations of the surname Kissinger

The surname Kissinger is one of many prevalent and prominent German Jewish surnames. It is believed to have derived from the German word “kussin”, meaning sweetheart, and the family may have originally been from the region of Franconia, central Germany. Since its appearance in the Middle Ages, Kissinger has had several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

The most common variants of Kissinger include Kushinger, Kuesinger, Kuessinger, Kuesing, Kalsinger, Kaissinger, Kaessing, Gissinger, Gessing, and Kissenger. There are also several non-German variants with rarely-used spellings, such as Kysinger, Culling, and Kostener.

Kissinger is also the origin of many surnames of the same origin. These include Kissin, Kisinger, Kisheg, Kishin, Kishayev, Kissel, Kalliger, Kalsen, Kaisen, Kassing, Gussin, Gessler, Gissing, Gisseling, Geisinger, Gessing, and Goschl.

In addition, there are several variants and spellings of Kissinger that incorporate Jewish culture, such as Kussner, Kissinsky, and Kischnik.

Finally, there are numerous surnames of non-German origin that are derived from, or similar to, the surname Kissinger and are found all over Europe, such as Koss, Katson, Csiz, Caspar, Kasimir, and Kiszler.

Overall, the surname Kissinger has a broad array of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Knowing these differentiations can provide insight into the origins of one’s family history and identify possible connections both past and present.

Famous people with the name Kissinger

• Henry Kissinger: Henry Kissinger is a German-born American political scientist and diplomat widely regarded as one of the foremost foreign policy makers in modern history. He served as National Security Advisor and Secretary of State under President Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.
• Alexander Kissinger: Alexander Kissinger is the son of Henry Kissinger and a prominent businessman, investor, and philanthropist. He is the Chairman of Kissinger Associates and is active in various charitable endeavors.
• David Kissinger: David Kissinger is the grandson of Henry Kissinger and a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is the co-founder of Kissinger Capital, a hedge fund based in New York City.
• Walter Kissinger: Walter Kissinger was the father of Henry Kissinger and a German Jewish immigrant to the United States. He was a bricklayer and grocer who operated a store in Washington Heights in New York City.
• Pauline Kissinger: Pauline Kissinger was the mother of Henry Kissinger and a Jewish émigré to the United States. She was a homemaker and worked in her husband's grocery store.
• Louis Kissinger: Louis Kissinger was the brother of Henry Kissinger and a successful businessman. He was the former chairman of Steinway and Sons, the renowned piano company.

Other surnames

Kissing