Surname Kontze - Meaning and Origin
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Kontze: What does the surname Kontze mean?
The last name Kontze is a patronymic surname of German origin. The root of the name is the conventional given name Konrad, derived from the Old High German 'Koonrat'. This was a popular given name during the Middle Ages and was a derivation of the Latin 'Conradus', which itself was derived from the Germanic elements 'kuon', meaning ‘bold counsel’, and ‘rad’, ‘counsel’.
The exact point of origin of the Kontze surname is unclear. It likely originated in an area of Germany and spread through migration and immigration to other countries, such as the United States, Canada and Australia.
The spelling variants of Kontze include Kontz, Kontzey, Kontzie and Kontzer, among other variants. These variants have also seen changes in spelling formalised over time as Kontze families moved to different countries.
The Kontze name is associated with qualities such as courage and wisdom, as symbolised by the root of the name. The Kontze people of today remain heirs to these patrimonial qualities.
Order DNA origin analysisKontze: Where does the name Kontze come from?
The surname Kontze is relatively uncommon in modern times, but appears to be most common among German-speaking countries. According to records from Germany, Austria, East Prussia and Switzerland, the surname is mainly clustered in the western and northern parts of the region. The Kontze family likely originated in Germany, and it remains concentrated there today.
The best concentration of the surname is found in Bavaria and Thuringia. This finds that the name is most commonly found in Colmberg, Johanniskirchen, Markt Erlbach, Kempfenhausen, Frammersbach, and Reckenhofen. These locations are all in Bavaria and Thuringia in Germany.
Records also show that the surname is most frequent in Saxony-Anhalt, a region in northeast Germany. Other locations in Germany with concentrations of the surname include Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Brandenburg, Hesse, Baden-Wuerttemberg, and Bremen.
Outside of Germany, the surname is most common in France, particularly in the provinces of Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin, which are part of the country's Alsace region.
Kontze is an uncommon surname, but records show that it can be found relatively densely in the German-speaking countries of Germany, Austria, Switzerland and East Prussia. It is also present in the Alsace region of France.
Variations of the surname Kontze
The surname Kontze is derived from German, Latvian, and North American origins. There are various spellings and variants of this name, depending on the regional interpretation of the original spelling. Some known spellings and variants of Kontze are:
Konze, Kuntze, Kunze, Kuntz, Kuntse, Kuntzmann, Kunzman, Kuntzman.
The Germanic form of Kontze is Kontze or Konte. The German form of Kontze is Kunze. The Latvian and Slavic form of Kontze is Kuntze or Kuntz.
In North America, this surname is often spelled as Kuntzman or Kuntze. The spelling of Kontze is generally less common in the United States.
The variants of the surname Kontze can also depend on the region. For example, in Germany, Kontze is often spelled as Kuntzmann, and in America it is usually spelled as Kuntze.
Surnames that are related to Kontze include: Kontzer, Kontzler, Konthaler, and Konzelmann.
In some cases, the surname Kontze may also be found as a first or middle name.
Famous people with the name Kontze
- Alexander Kontze: German classical archaeologist, natural historian, and ethnographer.
- John Kontze Jr.: American basketball coach from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- Paul Kontze: German printmaker who specialized in woodcutting and etching.
- Ralf Kontze: German chemist and professor of physical and colloid chemistry
- Eric Kontze: German engineer and director of the closest Air France office in Paris.
- Richard Kontze: American singer from Aurora, Illinois.
- Edmund Kontze: German World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.
- Marcin Kontze: Polish astronomer and an Astronomer of Toruń.
- Bobby Kontze: American basketball player who was named the top senior player in the state of Michigan in 2004.
- Max Kontze: German composer and choral conductor. Received an honorary degree from the University of Dresden in 1900.