Surname Könzel - Meaning and Origin
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Könzel: What does the surname Könzel mean?
The last name Könzel is of German origin and is most commonly found throughout Germany and parts of Europe. The name is an occupational surname, derived from the German word könig which means “king”. As such, the name was used to denote a person who held a job or occupation related to royalty, such as a courtier, advisor, or a servant to a monarch. Additionally, it is thought that the name could have derived from the term konigsel, which is a contraction of the words “konig zirkel” which means “King’s circle”.
The use of occupational surnames was first registered in the 13th century, when feudalism was in full swing. Many of the wealthy or royal families required a reliable form of tracking their family members and servants, which resulted in the prevalence of these surnames. As royalty extended across Europe, so did the use of similar names such as Könzel, making it a common name in several different areas.
Today, the name Könzel is found primarily throughout Germany and surrounding countries. It may also be found in parts of the United States, as it is the name of towns in Florida, Maryland, and Tennessee. It is still used as an occupational surname, although it has since become more generic, much like other surnames such as Smith or Miller. Therefore, the name continues to be used to denote someone who holds a royal or elevated position in their respective industry.
Order DNA origin analysisKönzel: Where does the name Könzel come from?
The last name Könzel is most commonly found in Germany, where it is one of the 20 most common surnames in the country, as well as in Austria, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, and other German-speaking countries. It is also found in countries with significant German minorities or German emigrant populations, such as Denmark, the United States, Brazil, and Argentina.
The origin of the last name Könzel is derived from the Middle High German word "Cunzal" or "Kuntzal" meaning a person from the village of "Konnecke," which is an old German term for the act of connecting or linking two objects. This meant that the person originally bearing the name Könzel had some kind of lineage to the village of Konnecke.
Most individuals with the surname Könzel today are thought to originate from the German-speaking areas in Europe. For example, records show that a majority of immigrants to the United States bearing the name Könzel in the 19th century were from the area that is now Germany. It is possible that other individuals with the surname have adopted the name over time as a German name, perhaps from other countries.
Despite its German origins, the name Könzel is not limited to German-speaking countries. People from all over the world can be found bearing this name in modern day due to its long-standing presence in the world and its popularity.
Variations of the surname Könzel
The surname Könzel has various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Konzel is one of the most common variants used, which is typically found in Germany. This spelling is a Germanized variation on the Czech Koncíl or Kuncíl, which also have alternate spellings such as Konzell, Konzel, Konzels, and Konczel. Other variant spellings of Könzel are Köntzel, Küntzel, Kunzel, and Kunzell.
The surname knoopt, which is derived from the German word ‘knopf’ or ‘button’, is another variant form that is seen in some parts of Germany, specifically in Brandenburg. It is believed that this form of the surname either originated as a nickname for someone with a round face, or as an occupational name for someone who made buttons.
Variations of the name Könzel exist outside of Germany as well, such as in Slovakia and several Eastern European countries, including Hungary and the Czech Republic. Examples of surnames derived from the original Czech word Koncíl include Knirsch, Kunze, Kunish, Kunishny, Kounishny, Kunisch, Kuncílek, and Kunzak.
In the Netherlands, some of the alternate surnames related to Könzel include Koens, König, Koenen, Koen, and Koning. Similarly, the surname can also be found in some parts of England with variants such as Koontz, Kuntz, Kontz, and Kuntzle.
No matter which variant of the surname is used, all forms of it are derived from the same root word. The various spellings, surnames, and variants of the Könzel surname reflect both its regional history and its subsequent use in different parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Könzel
- Martin Könzel, retired German footballer
- Sepp Könzel, retired German football player
- Manfred Könzel, retired German cyclist
- Klaus Könzel, German film producer
- Werner Könzel, German actor
- Georges Könzel, German Rose breeder
- Marina Könzel, German actress
- Eva Könzel, German actress
- Anna Könzel, German professional golfer
- Paul Könzel, German-born American sculptor
- Wolfgang Könzel, German professor of American literature
- Helmut Könzel, German geographer and professor
- Elisabeth Könzel, German artist
- Daniel Könzel, German film screenwriter and director
- Karl Könzel, German chancellor of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
- Bruno Könzel, German operatic bass-baritone
- Bertold Könzel, German playwright and novelist
- Günther Könzel, German concert organist
- Julius Könzel, German chemist
- Stanislav Könzel, Czech footballer