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Koenig Family History

Koenig Surname Meaning

German (mainly König) and Jewish (Ashkenazic; also König): from Middle High German künic German König ‘king’ hence a German nickname for a servant or retainer of a king (for example a farmer on a royal demesne) or alternatively a status name for the head of a craftsmen's guild or a society of sharpshooters or minstrels.

As a Jewish surname it is artificial, one of several such Ashkenazic names based on European titles of nobility or royalty. The surname Koenig is also found in France (Alsace and Lorraine) and Poland.

In eastern Germany the surname König is in part a Germanized form (translation into German) of Sorbian Kral ‘king’. Similarly, in Czechia, Poland, Slovenia and Croatia it was often applied as a translation into German of Czech, Polish, Slovenian and Croatian cognates Král (see Kral), Król (see Krol) and Kralj respectively.

Compare Konig. In some cases also an American shortened form of the compound artificial Jewish names of which Koenig is the first element, as for example Koenigfest.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Koenig family from?

You can see how Koenig families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Koenig family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Koenig families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 14 Koenig families living in London. This was about 47% of all the recorded Koenig's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Koenig families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Koenig surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Koenig ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Clerk (receptionist) and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Koenig. 100% of Koenig men worked as a Clerk (receptionist) and 85% of Koenig women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Koenig | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Clerk (receptionist)
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    85%
  • Private Means
    16%

What Koenig family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 69,000 census records available for the last name Koenig. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Koenig census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Koenig

Passenger Lists

There are 18,000 immigration records available for the last name Koenig. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Koenig immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 19,000 military records available for the last name Koenig. For the veterans among your Koenig ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Koenig military records

You've only scratched the surface of Koenig family history

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What is the average Koenig lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Koenig life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Koenig in 1944 was 61, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Koenig

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Koenig ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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