Family name origins & meanings
- Americanized form of the Slovenian, Croatian, and Serbian surname Kralj, an ironic or figurative nickname from kralj ‘king’. The word is derived from the name of the Frankish king and Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne (?742–814; Latin name Carolus Magnus).
- Perhaps also an Americanized form of Hungarian Király, from király ‘king’. See also Kral.