Here you’ll find 25 Italian last names that start with K, organized from “Kacin” to “Kunz”. These names are relatively uncommon in Italy and often reflect foreign influence, regional variants, or historical migration. Use this list for genealogy, creative writing, or quick surname research.
Italian last names that start with K are a small group of surnames in Italy that often point to border-region origins or immigrant families. For example, “Kunz” appears in northern records and likely connects to Germanic personal names.
Below you’ll find the table with Surname, Meaning, Region, Variants, and Notable people.
Surname: The family name as recorded; you can use it to search archives and match records precisely.
Meaning: Brief etymology or literal translation; you learn origin clues and possible occupational or descriptive roots.
Region: Typical Italian regions or foreign areas associated with each surname, helping you focus local archives or migration patterns.
Variants: Common spelling or dialect variants listed so you consider alternate forms when searching records or documents.
Notable people: Short list of notable individuals bearing the name, with roles and dates to assist identification and historical context.
Italian last names that start with K
| Surname | Meaning | Region/Origin | Notable people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kostner | Likely from a Germanic personal name or place; Tyrolean origin | South Tyrol | Carolina Kostner (figure skater, b.1987); Isolde Kostner (alpine skier, b.1975) |
| Kofler | Topographic: dweller near a prominent hill or peak (‘Kofel’) | South Tyrol, Trentino | |
| Kerschbaumer | From German ‘Kirschbaum’ (cherry tree) or farm name | South Tyrol | |
| Klausner | Occupational: cleric or ‘cloistered one’ (from Klaus/Kloster) | South Tyrol, Trentino | |
| Kirchgasser | Topographic: resident by the church lane (‘Kirchgasse’) | South Tyrol | |
| Kircher | Occupational: church-associated or from ‘Kirche’ (church) | Foreign origin: Germany; active in Rome | Athanasius Kircher (scholar, 1602–1680) |
| Klotz | Occupational/family name associated with luthier tradition | Tyrol region (historical) | |
| Kessler | Occupational: maker of vats or cellars (from ‘Kessel’) | South Tyrol, Trentino | |
| Keller | Occupational: cellar-keeper or steward | South Tyrol, Lombardy | |
| Kraus | Nickname: curly-haired person (from German ‘kraus’) | South Tyrol, Veneto | |
| Kramer | Occupational: merchant, hawker | South Tyrol, Veneto | |
| Kuhn | From Old High German ‘kuoni’ (brave) or ‘Kühn’ | South Tyrol, Trentino | |
| Kunz | Pet form of Konrad (Conrad) | South Tyrol, Trentino | |
| Koenig | Royal epithet: ‘king’ (from König) | South Tyrol, Trentino | |
| Koller | Occupational/topographic: maker or dweller from ‘Koll’ | South Tyrol, Trentino | |
| Klocker | Occupational variant: bell-ringer or lock keeper | South Tyrol, Trentino | |
| Kreuzer | Occupational/monetary: maker or user of ‘kreuzer’ coin | South Tyrol, Trentino | |
| Kramerer | Variant of Kramer; merchant or trader | South Tyrol, Trentino | |
| Kobal | Patronymic or regional Slovene surname (likely from ‘Koba’) | Friuli‑Venezia Giulia (Trieste, Gorizia) | |
| Kacin | Slovene patronymic or local name | Friuli‑Venezia Giulia (Trieste, Gorizia) | |
| Kolar | Occupational: wheelwright (Slavic origin) | Friuli‑Venezia Giulia, Istria | |
| Kovac | Smith (from Slavic ‘Kovač’) | Friuli‑Venezia Giulia, Istria (Italian records) | |
| Kranjc | Toponymic: from Kranj (Slovenia) or regionally derived | Friuli‑Venezia Giulia | |
| Koci | Albanian origin: patronymic or clan name | Southern Italy (Arbëreshë communities), immigrant families | |
| Klein | Nickname: ‘small’ (German/Jewish origin) | Northern Italy, Jewish communities |
Descriptions
Kostner
Common Germanophone surname from Alto Adige; prominent in winter sports, with Ladin and Tyrolean roots and regional spelling stability.
Kofler
A frequent South Tyrolean surname of German origin; found in parish records and phone books across Alto Adige and northern Trentino.
Kerschbaumer
A Tyrolean surname indicating origin from a cherry-tree homestead; typical of rural Alta Badia and other mountain communities.
Klausner
A German-language surname in northern Italy, often associated with clergy or monastic connections in historical registers.
Kirchgasser
A distinct South Tyrolean surname reflecting settlement near a church street; common in German-speaking valleys.
Kircher
German Jesuit surname well attested in Italian archival sources; notable bearers worked in Rome during the Baroque era.
Klotz
Name of a famous Mittenwald luthier family; appears in Tyrolean and neighbouring Italian records due to historical movement.
Kessler
A Germanic occupational surname found among Alto Adige families and German-speaking communities in northern Italy.
Keller
A common German surname present in northern Italy, often in Alto Adige and areas with historical German influence.
Kraus
A descriptive Germanic surname recorded in northeastern Italy, especially where German and Slavic populations meet.
Kramer
A German-origin occupational surname used by families in northern Italian market towns and alpine valleys.
Kuhn
A short Germanic surname present in Alto Adige records; variants include Kühn and Kuen in local registers.
Kunz
A patronymic-derived surname appearing in German-language communities of northern Italy, with occasional Italianized records.
Koenig
A German-derived surname sometimes spelled Koenig in Italian documents; found among Germanophone families in Alto Adige.
Koller
A well-attested Tyrolean surname in Italian civil records, common in mountain parishes and German-language phone listings.
Klocker
Recorded in parish and civil archives of northern Italy; reflects medieval occupations near churches or castles.
Kreuzer
German-origin surname found in Alto Adige and adjacent areas; often appears in historical tax and land documents.
Kramerer
A regional variant of a German occupational name, recorded among German-speaking communities in northern Italy.
Kobal
A Slovene-origin surname found among the Slovene minority in NE Italy; appears in civil registers and local directories.
Kacin
A Slovene surname documented in Italian border provinces; common in communities with bilingual records.
Kolar
A Slavic surname present among Italian Croat and Slovene minorities; recorded in local civil and parish listings.
Kovac
A Slavic-origin occupational name appearing in northeastern Italy and coastal Istria registers; often Italianized in some documents.
Kranjc
A Slovene surname spelled with K and found in Italian civil records from border areas; indicates geographic origin.
Koci
Common among Arbëreshë and Albanian immigrant populations in Italy; preserved spelling with K in records.
Klein
A well-known Germanic/Jewish surname registered in Italian archives and community lists, especially in northern urban centers.