Surname Kiene - Meaning and Origin
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Kiene: What does the surname Kiene mean?
The last name Kiene is of German origin from the Rhineland region. The root of the name comes from the German term "kiener" meaning "cabbage cutter". The original intent of the surname was to serve as an occupational name, indicating the person was likely a farmer or vegetable seller.
Many variations in spellings of the name have evolved over time, and the original spelling may have been Keiner. Since German surnames often underwent transformation depending on where the person lived, variations of the name include Keppne, Kiehne, Koene, and Kienz, among others.
In Germany, the Kiene name was often found in the Lower Rhine region of the country, particularly in and around the city of Kleve, located on the border of the Netherlands. It is likely some of the name's earliest bearers moved to areas such as Schleswig-Holstein, Bavaria, and Austria, with migration to the United States beginning from Germany before the 20th century.
The Kiene surname is rather uncommon in the United States, but those bearing the name typically live in the Midwest or on the East Coast states. The family name is carried in parts of Britain, France, Belgium, Holland, Australia and Canada, among other countries.
Order DNA origin analysisKiene: Where does the name Kiene come from?
The last name Kiene is most common today in Germany and Austria, where it is ranked among the top 5000 most common surnames. The name's origins can be found in the North Germanic languages of Old Norse and Old High German, where its meaning is either "king", "leader" or "maker of keys". The earliest known members of the Kiene family to migrate outside of their native Germany were the brothers Carl and Johann Kiene who moved to Russia in the 19th century.
In the United States, Kiene is primarily found in the Midwest, where Germans are the largest ancestry group in many cities and towns. Data from the 2000 US Census Bureau indicates the surname is the 1,963rd most common last name in the United States. The states that have the highest concentrations of Kiene families are Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois.
Additionally, according to the International Genealogical Index, Kiene is also present in Croatia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary, all of which are countries of Central and Eastern Europe where Germanic influence is documented. Kiene is known to have been particularly well established in Hungary, where many members of the Kiene family were part of prominent noble families.
Variations of the surname Kiene
The surname Kiene is a Germanic and Dutch surname that is derived from the given name “Koen”. This surname has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
In Dutch, the spelling of the given name Koen has evolved to Kien, which has given rise to the surname variants Kien and Kiens. In German, the surname can be found spelled as Keene, Kien, Kein, Kienes, and Kienz.
The surname can also be found in the U.S. with alternative spellings such as Keene, Kien, Kienz, Kiene, Kiennes, and Kienne.
The surname is also found in more distant derivatives, such as Mckien, Mckin, Mckenne, and Mckienz. These variants are likely derived from the Scottish Mc spelling, which is primarily used when the original surname starts with Mac.
Furthermore, there are variants such as Keen, Kiernan, Kivisto, and Kinan. These variants are likely derived from other similar sounding old names or from different culture's version of the name, such as Kivisto from Finland.
Overall, the surname Kiene has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. InDutch and German, the lucknames are likely derived from the given name Koen, but in other countries they have other derivations.
Famous people with the name Kiene
- Adam Kiene: American professional runner
- Lori Kiene: American alpine ski racer
- James Kiene: American politician
- Derek Kiene: lead guitarist for the rock band Confront!
- Steven Kiene: former professional baseball pitcher
- Brian Kiene: American soccer player
- Paul Kiene: racing driver from the United States
- Robert Kiene: Austrian modern pentathlete
- Christine Kiene: American tennis player
- Jason Kiene: major league baseball scout