Surname Kunze - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
DNA Test Unravels the Woven Tapestry of My Kinship: A Journey of Understanding Through the Lens of Ancestral Kunze Lineage
In their quest to understand history from a personal perspective, one individual delved into their family roots using iGENEA, a DNA testing service. Unraveling their genetic past led them on an unexpected journey through multicultural heritage's, challenging their self-understanding and identity in a profound way. This narrative reports on how the DNA test illuminated the fascinating path that led to the person they are today.
N. Kunze
read moreKunze: What does the surname Kunze mean?
The last name Kunze is of German origin. It is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word “kunz”, meaning “counselor”, or “wise man”. The name is thought to have first been adopted as a surname by people who were counselors to local rulers.
In Germany, the surname is most common in the states of Bavaria, Saxony, Hesse, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, and Lower Saxony. It is also found throughout the German-speaking countries of Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.
The patronymic form of the surname Kunze is Kunz, and its variant forms are Konze, Konze, Kunzmann, and Kunzey. There is also a Dutch variant of the name: Kunz.
Throughout the centuries, the meaning of the surname has remained essentially unchanged. Kunze people are seen as having wise counsel and able decision-making capabilities. They had - and still have - an air of wisdom and respectability to them.
Since the 17th century, the largest concentrations of people with the surname Kunze have lived in the two regions of Brandenburg and Saxony. The majority of Kunzes living today, however, are concentrated around the cities of Bremen, Hamburg, and Hannover.
It is estimated that in modern-day Germany, there are around 160,000 people bearing the name Kunze. The majority of these are thought to be descended from the original Kunzes, who were counselors to the nobility in the region.
Order DNA origin analysisKunze: Where does the name Kunze come from?
The last name Kunze is most commonly found in Germany today. It is estimated that there are approximately 33,000 people with the Kunze surname living in Germany. It is also found in small numbers in Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, and the United States.
The Kunze surname is derived from the Old Germanic language word ‘kunk’ meaning ‘strong’ and ‘ze’ meaning ‘south’. This suggests that the Kunze family originated in an area south of Germany, and may have been related to one of the Germanic tribes that moved into and populated the area around the 4th or 5th century.
The Kunze name is most common in Saxony, a federal state in Germany and the traditional home of the ‘Saxons’. Other areas of Germany where the frequency of the Kunze name is relatively high include the states of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Saxony-Anhalt.
As of 2020, the most common given names associated with the Kunze surname in Germany include Dieter, Klaus, Hans, Peter, and Gerd. Today, the Kunze family name is found in several other countries such as Austria, Denmark, and the United States. In the United States, it is estimated that there are around 4,000 people with the Kunze surname.
Variations of the surname Kunze
The surname Kunze has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants are Kunz, Kuntz, Kuntze, Kintz, Kantz, Konse, Konetzke and Kuns. Generally, variants of a surname tend to originate when an individual in a family line deviates from the traditional spelling after it had become standardized.
Kunze is an occupational surname, derived from a profession of tailers. Historically, Kunze could also be a nickname or descriptive name, referring to someone who was known for being a wise person or well respected leader. In some cases, the surname Kunze might also be topographic in nature, meaning it was derived from the geographical features of its original place of residence.
Some of the most common spellings of Kunze include Kuenze, Konze, Kuntz, Kuntze, Kunz, Kunske, Konzemeier, Konzelman, Konzelman, Kuntzelman, Kintzel, and Konetzke. Each of these spellings has its own particular origin and meaning behind it, though all are derived from 'Kunze'. Additionally, surnames such as Kuntzmann and Kuntzman are also derived from Kunze.
In some cases, the spelling of the surname Kunze might have varied during the emigration process. Some immigrants may have changed the spelling of their name in order to fit in more easily in their new home country, while others may have simply adopted variations of the original spelling due to errors made by registrars.
Whether these spellings are variants of the original surname, altered spellings or unrelated names entirely, the past four hundred years have seen many forms of the surname Kunze arise, indicating the diversity of the population that has borne it.
Famous people with the name Kunze
- Stephen Kunze: Stephen Kunze is a German programmer, entrepreneur and serial investor. He is the founder of several successful software development companies in Europe and the United States.
- Ulrich Kunze: Ulrich Kunze is an Austrian actor and musician, known for his roles in the movie 'Viola' (2015) and in the play 'Liliom' (2015).
- Michael Kunze: Michael Kunze is an Austrian composer, lyricist, and author of musicals, best known for works such as 'Mozart!' (1989) and 'Elisabeth' (1992).
- Angela Kunze: Angela Kunze is a German figure skater, best known as a three-time Austrian national figure skating champion.
- Jennifer Kunze: Jennifer Kunze is a German singer and actress, best known for appearing on the 2016 season of the German version of 'The Voice'.
- László Kunze: László Kunze is a Hungarian composer, producer and musicologist, best known for his work on the 2004 Hungarian revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical 'Evita'.
- Elmer J. Kunze: Elmer J. Kunze was an American lawyer, judge, and politician, who served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1889 to 1893.
- Wolf Kunze: Wolf Kunze is a German voice actor, best known for providing the German voice of 'Cheshire Cat' in the 1995 animated movie adaptation of 'Alice in Wonderland'.
- Ehrenfried Kunze: Ehrenfried Kunze was a German architect, best known for the design of the Schwabhausen train station in Munich and the design of the Town Hall of Worms, Germany.
- Joseph O. Kunze: Joseph O. Kunze was an United States Army Air Forces pilot during World War II, who posthumously received the Silver Star for his bravery and selfless service in the skies over Japan.