Surname Koehne - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Koehne: What does the surname Koehne mean?
The last name Koehne is a German surname which is believed to have originated from de Kohn, meaning “son of Kohn.” The Koehne surname can be traced back to the Middle Ages when it was first used as an occupational or descriptive name for a person who was related to Kohn, which was a German nobleman in the 12th and 13th centuries.
It is believed that the Koehne surname developed from a shortening of the original name Kohn, and was later changed into Koehne when it got incorporated into the language. The Koehne name was mainly used in northern Germany and the Baltic region, and some Koehne families also resided in Austria, Switzerland, and Lithuania.
The Koehne name is associated with a rich history of tradition, achievement, and honor. It is believed that many Koehne families were related to aristocratic clans which ran noble houses, and many Koehnen were renowned for their charitable works and a sense of responsibility to the community. Some Koehne family members bore titles like Baron, Count, or Baroness, which closely tie them to noble families. The Koehne name is also associated with the esteemed Order of St. George (Ritterorden des Drachenordens).
The Koehne surname is now quite prevalent in German-speaking countries, and according to a German census, there were around 5,000 people with the name Koehne in Austria alone in 2020. Over time, the Koehne name has spread beyond German-speaking countries, with families with the Koehne surname now found in the United States, Canada, and other countries around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisKoehne: Where does the name Koehne come from?
The last name Koehne is a German surname meaning “cunning” or “crafty”. It is still fairly common today in countries that historically had a large presence of German immigrants, such as the United States and Canada, especially in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions.
In the United States, the states with the highest concentration of Koehne family members are Pennsylvania, California, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and Illinois. In Canada, Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia tend to have the most Koehne family members.
Interestingly, the surname Koehne is found in other parts of the world as well. It is particularly popular in Argentina, where it has been linked to the German immigrants that arrived in the country in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Koehne is also found in a number of countries in Europe, including Switzerland, Germany, France, and the Netherlands.
The surname Koehne is also popular in South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, and Australia. It is likely that Koehne is a variant of a surname that was taken to those countries by German immigrants, although this is difficult to confirm.
No matter where it is found in the world, Koehne is an interesting surname that has been passed down to many generations of its original German bearers.
Variations of the surname Koehne
Koehne is an ancient German surname with several variant spellings and related surnames of the same origin. Originally the name was derived from the Middle High German words 'kohein' or 'koenne', referring to a priest, or to a descendant of Aaron.
Common variant spellings of the surname include Koehn, Kohne, Koen, Kohn, Coen, Cohne, and Coehn. They are all pronounced the same, with the original Germanic spelling of Koehne as the most prevalent.
Some branches of the same family tree also share surnames such as Koenig and König, which are derived from the original Middle High German word for 'king.' Similarly, there are surnames of the same origin that begin with 'C' and 'K', such as Cohen and Cohn, Cohnheim, and Cohrs. These names come from the word 'kohein,' denoting a priest or descendant of Aaron.
Other related surnames are Kuhn, Kühn, Kühne, and Kuhne. These names are derived from Middle High German words meaning 'brave', 'bold', or 'bravery.' During the Middle Ages, it was taken on as a surname to signify a brave or valiant person.
Koehne is still a common surname in Germany, but the variants of it are scattered throughout the world by descendants of German immigrants. The original spelling continues to be the most widely used version of the name, but the variants have gained acceptance as legitimate spellings as the name has become more common.
Famous people with the name Koehne
- Michael Koehne: American indoor volleyball player who participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics
- Christa Koehne: German long-distance runner who competed in the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
- Caroline Koehne: British actress who starred in several short films
- Fritz Koehne: German general who served in World War II
- Stephanie Koehne: professional golfer on the developmental tour, Symetra Tour
- Eric Koehne: United States Coast Guard petty officer who earned the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroism during Hurricane Katrina in 2005
- Gordon Koehne: American professional soccer player who played in Major Indoor Soccer League
- Franz Koehne: German composer of Classical music
- Matt Koehne: American musician and drummer best known as a founding member of the band MTKO
- Matthews Koehne: Australian lawyer, history professor, and academic administrator