An Irish, English and Scots surname it refers to a leader or head of a group. The Old English form was ‘cyning’ which meant tribal leader. In the Scottish Gaelic the word was ’ceann’, which also meant leader or head. In Germany the King surname is written önig and Keonig.

In the United Kingdom, the King surname is primarily in the southeast region, especially near London. In Scotland it is in the county of Lanarkshire. Within the United states, King families are in the northeast around New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. In the south in Georgia and Texas and also in California.

Famous: Larry King (, talk show host and journalist), Reggie King (professional basketball player), Carole King (singer), Sam King (professional golfer), Martin Luther King, Jr. (minister and civil rights leader), Steven King (author), Billie Jean King (professional tennis player), Jessie M. King (Scottish painter and illustrator of children's books) and Francis King (English short story writer).