King (surname)
| King | |
|---|---|
| Family name | |
 A king | |
| Meaning | head or leader |
| Region of origin | England/Scotland |
| Language(s) of origin | English/Gaelic |
King is a family name of English, Scottish and French origin. The English name comes from Old English cyning (tribal leader), which may derive from Proto-Germanic kuningaz.[1]
The Irish surname King is associated with County Galway and was often given to Irish-American immigrants as an anglicized form of the surname Conroy, among others.
The Scottish surname King is a Sept of the Clan Gregor / MacGregor.
The French surname King is associated with orphanages in France where children were given the last name Roi/Roy [French for King], as they were called the King's children. For example, the Filles de Roi, or King's girls, were young girls who were given a dowry by the King and sent to Quebec in the 16th century.[2] For immigrants to the United States, the name was then Americanised to King.
List of people with the surname King
- Adam King (1783–1835), former US Representative from Pennsylvania
- Adam King (born 1995), Scottish footballer
- Alan King
- Albert King (disambiguation), several people with this name, including:
- Albert King, American blues guitarist
- Alex King (basketball), German basketballer
- Alveda King, American politician and minister
- Andrew or Andy King
- Angela King (1938-2007), Jamaican diplomat
- B.B. King (born 1925), American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter
- Barry King (born 1945), British Olympic decathlete, corporate director and author
- Basil King (1859–1928), Canadian clergy and novelist
- Ben E. King (1938-2015), American singer
- Bernard King (born 1956), American basketball player
- Bertie King (1912–1981), Jamaican jazz and mento musician
- Beverly Sedgwick King (1876–1935), philatelist of New York City
- Bianca King, Filipina actress
- Bill King, American radio announcer
- Billie Jean King, American tennis player
- Brett King (1920-1999), American actor and businessman
- Bruce King (1924–2009), former governor of New Mexico
- Carole King, American singer and songwriter
- Catherine King
- Cathy King, Canadian curler
- Charles (Charlie, or Chuck) King
- Christopher King
- Collis King, Former West Indian cricketer
- Coretta Scott King, American civil rights leader and widow of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Dana M. King, American college sports coach
- Daniel (or Dan, Danny) King
- David (or Dave) King, Fantastic chap from St Neots.
- David (or Dave, Davey) King
- Dennis King, actor
- D. J. King (born 1984), Canadian professional ice hockey left winger
- Dolly King (1916–1969), American basketball player
- Don King (born 1931), American boxing promoter
- Don King (born 1960), American surfing photographer
- Earl King (1934-2003), American blues singer-songwriter
- Edward (Ed, or Eddie) King
- Emmit King (born 1959), American sprinter
- Eric King
- Ernest King (1878–1956), US Navy admiral
- Ernie King (1903–1993), English footballer who played for Southampton
- Evelyn King
- Francis King (1923-2011), British novelist, poet and short story writer
- Frank King
- Freddie King (1934-1976), American blues guitarist
- Frederick King (born 1923), Canadian House of Commons member
- Gary King
- George King
- Georgia King, actress
- Gordon King, American football player
- Grace King, American author
- Harold R. "Hal" King, American suspense novelist
- Harry King
- Héctor King, Mexican recording artist
- Helen King, Canadian actress
- Henry King
- Howard (or Howie) King
- Ian King
- James (Jim, or Jimmy) King
- Jack King
- Jason King
- Jazzy (or Jasmina) King, German-English singer
- Jeff (or Jeffrey) King
- Jessie Marion King, Scottish painter and illustrator
- Joe or Joseph King
- Jonathan King, British musician and record producer
- Jonathan King (film director), New Zealand film director
- John (or Johnny) King
- Kenneth King (or Ken, Kenny) King
- Karen Leigh King (born 1954), American academic
- Katie King
- Kelly King (born 1948), American businesswoman
- Kerry King (born 1964), American rock musician
- Kim King, American college football player
- Lamar King (born 1975), American football player
- Larry King
- Ledley King (born 1980), English footballer
- Leonard William King (1869-1919), English archaeologist
- Lester Charles King (1907–1989), English geomorphologist
- Mabel King (1932-1999), American film, stage, and television actress
- Marcia Gygli King (1931-2011), American artist.
- Mark King
- Mary King
- Marlon King (born 1980), Jamaican footballer
- Martin King
- Martin Luther King, Jr., American civil rights leader
- Matthew or Matt King
- Mervyn King
- Michael (or Mike) King
- Mollie King (born 1987), British singer
- Paul King
- Pee Wee King (1914-2000), American country music singer
- Peter (or Pete) King
- Philip (or Phil) King
- Preston King
- Ralph E. King (1902-1974), American physician and Louisiana state senator
- Ray King (born 1974), American baseball player
- Reggie King (born 1957), American basketball player
- Regina King (born 1971), American actress
- Richard (or Rich) King
- Robert (or Bob, Bobby, Rob, Robbie, or Robby) King
- Rodney King (1965–2012), American man beaten by Los Angeles police
- Ross King
- Ruby (or Natasha) King, German-English singer
- Rufus King
- Sam King (1911-2003), professional golfer
- Savannah King (born 1992), Canadian freestyle swimmer
- Shaun King, Tulane and NFL quarterback, ESPN sports commentator
- Sidney E. King (1906-2002), American painter
- Simon King
- Stephen, Steve or Steven King
- Susan King
- Syd King (1873-1933), English footballer and manager
- Tara King the fictional woman character in The Avengers
- Teddi King (1929-1977), American jazz and pop vocalist
- Thomas (or Tom) King
- Vania King (born 1989), American tennis player
- W. J. King (1864-1934), American college football coach
- Wayne King (1901-1985), American musician, singer, songwriter and orchestral leader
- Willford I. King, American statistician and economist
- William Lyon Mackenzie King, 10th Prime Minister of Canada
- Wright King (born 1923), American actor
- William (or Bill, Billy, Will, Willie, Willy) King
References
See also
- Captain King (disambiguation)