király

Király is a Hungarian word meaning "king." It also functions as a surname in Hungary and among Hungarian communities worldwide, reflecting common patterns in Hungarian onomastics of deriving surnames from nicknames, occupations, or locality names. The standard spelling includes the acute accent over the i (Király); when diacritics are omitted or in non-Hungarian contexts, it may appear as Kiraly.

Király as a surname is widespread and can be found across generations and various professions. It is particularly common among Hungarians in Hungary, Romania (notably Transylvania), Slovakia, and diaspora communities in Western Europe and the Americas.

Toponymy is another area where Király appears, as the root király is used in Hungarian place names and sometimes denotes historical royal connections or functions. Consequently, Király is a component in several village and locality names in Hungary and surrounding regions with Hungarian heritage.

Notable people bearing the surname include Gábor Király (born 1976), a Hungarian football goalkeeper who has played for the national team and for clubs across Europe. Other individuals with the surname have contributed in sports, arts, and academia, reflecting the surname’s broad distribution.

See also: Királyi, the Hungarian adjective meaning "royal."