Surname Kienke - Meaning and Origin

Kienke: What does the surname Kienke mean?

Kienke is a German last name that is derived from the Middle High German words “kiener” and “künig”, which together mean “king.” Due to its connections to royalty, this name reflects a prestigious ancestor who possibly had a prominent position in society.

Kienke is thought to have originated in the area around what is now Berlin. There is evidence that this regional variant evolved from the more common “Koenig” from the same time period. As many families living in this region were often of similar socio-economic backgrounds, it is likely that the family lineages were connected in subtle ways to one another.

Kienke is an especially old surname, with records of it first being used as far back as the 12th-century. It became even more prominent when Germany unified and became a nation-state in 1871. It increased in popularity during this time as families sought to tie themselves to this new, powerful government.

Today, Kienke is still a very popular German surname. It is found in every corner of the country, though it is most common in the north and east, where the family name originated centuries ago. It is also found across Europe, and in the United States, primarily among those of German-American descent.

Kienke is a surname that is steeped in tradition and holds family lineages going back hundreds of years. It has been cherished throughout the ages and continues to be a source of pride for those who bear the name.

Kienke: Where does the name Kienke come from?

The last name Kienke is most commonly seen in German-speaking countries and various parts of Europe. It is particularly widespread in Germany, Austria, and Poland. In Germany, the Kienke surname is most commonly found in the northern regions which include Hamburg, Munich, Berlin, and Leipzig.

In Poland, the Kienke name is also quite popular. It is concentrated in cities like Warsaw, Krakow, and Poznan. In the United States, Kienke has been recorded in various states like Pennsylvania, Texas, Ohio, and Kentucky.

The Kienke family line has also been documented in various places around the world like Canada, the Netherlands, and South Africa. In many of these areas, Kienke is spelled slightly differently to indicate the localized version of the name. For instance, the Dutch version of Kienke is Keunen and the Polish version is Kieńki.

Overall, Kienke is a very common surname and it is most likely to be encountered in German-speaking countries and Poland, as well as in various parts of the United States and Canada. Records also indicate that this surname is present in other countries like the Netherlands and South Africa.

Variations of the surname Kienke

The surname Kienke is a German surname, derived from the Middle High German word kien, which translates to mean "long, keen, or pointed". Variations of the surname include Keenke, Kienke, Kinke, Kinzke, Kynke, and Kynzke. Other variations of the same origin include Kyenen, Kienen, Kinen, and Kynen.

In many instances, the surname has also been documented with a double “n”, like the surnames Kienken, Kenken, Kincken, Kynken, Kyennen, Kienenn, Kienen, and Kinenn.

Other spellings used have included Keyser, Keyzer, Keysen, and Keyzen. These also have a German origin, deriving from an occupational name from the Hebrew word “kaiser”, which translates to mean “emperor” or “leader of the people”.

In addition to these spellings, variations of Kienke have been seen with prefixes, like de, van, zu, and von. Examples can include de Kienke, Van Kienke, Zu Kienke, and Von Kienke.

The surname Kienke is also commonly seen in combination with other surnames. Examples of this include Kienke-Berg, Kienke-Beck, Kienke-Kerner, and Kienke-Schmidt.

Finally, the surname has also been seen with the addition of other suffixes, mostly for purposes of expressing possession. This can include Kienke-s, Kienke's, and Kienkes.

Famous people with the name Kienke

• Anke Kienke: German actress, known for voicing movie characters.
• Laura Kienke: Award-winning lawyer and legal activist who specializes in gender equality and women’s rights in the workplace.
• Bart Kienke: Dutch sound engineer who has worked on movies such as Ocean’s Eleven.
• Erik Kienke: German footballer who currently plays for TSV 1860 Munich.
• Wilhelm Kienke: German composer who wrote music for various plays.
• Sven Kienke: German economist and professor at the University of St. Gallen.
• Lisa Kienke: Former professional beach volleyball player and broadcast commentator.
• Uwe Kienke: German volleyball coach and technical director of the German Volleyball League.
• Günter Kienke: Co-founder of the German Lawyers' Association.
• Sigrid Kienke: Director of Finance for Alstom Germany.

Other surnames

Kienker