Find out how popular the last name König is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named König.

König, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the König surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of König in America

König is the 31211th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The König surname appeared 743 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname König.

We can also compare 2010 data for König to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name König

The surname Konig originated in Germany and can be traced back to medieval times. It is derived from the German word "König," meaning "king," and was likely bestowed upon someone who acted in a regal or noble manner, or who held a position of authority or leadership within their community.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Konig can be found in various German documents and records from the 13th and 14th centuries, such as the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae and the Schwäbisches Wörterbuch. These records often mention individuals with variations of the name, such as Koning, Kunig, or Kunic.

One notable historical reference to the name Konig is in the Nuremberg Chronicle, a world history published in 1493. The chronicle includes an illustration depicting a man identified as "König von Beyern," or "King of Bavaria," suggesting that the name was associated with royalty or nobility.

In the 15th century, a man named Johann Konig (1435-1501) gained prominence as a German mathematician and astronomer. He is credited with introducing the plus and minus signs into mathematical notation and made significant contributions to the field of trigonometry.

Another notable individual with the surname Konig was Friedlieb Ferdinand Konig (1765-1832), a German printer and inventor. He is best known for inventing the first commercially successful cylinder printing press, which revolutionized the printing industry and enabled the mass production of books and newspapers.

In the realm of literature, Hans Konig (1598-1661) was a German dramatist and poet who wrote several influential plays and poems during the Baroque period. His work helped shape the development of German literature and theater in the 17th century.

The name Konig can also be found in various place names throughout Germany, such as Königsberg (now Kaliningrad, Russia), Königshofen, and Königswinter. These place names often derive from historical associations with royalty or nobility, further reinforcing the regal connotations of the surname.

Throughout history, the surname Konig has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, inventors, artists, and even members of the nobility. Its enduring presence across centuries serves as a testament to the rich cultural heritage and legacy of this Germanic surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name König

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname König.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for König was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of König has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name König was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of König, please contact us.

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