Surname Keiler - Meaning and Origin
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Keiler: What does the surname Keiler mean?
The last name Keiler is of German origin and is derived from the German word “Keiler”, which means “boar”. The Keiler family was first documented in the Middle Ages in the German region of Silesia, which is now located mostly in Poland and the Czech Republic.
The name was likely adopted by the early Keiler family either as an occupational surname, indicating a farmstead where wild boar were often hunted, or as a nickname, referring to a family member's particularly aggressive or willful behavior.
Thus, the Keiler surname often reflects a family's hunting roots or a connection to the historic Germanic culture. It is believed that the name is derived from the old High German word “Keilo”, which means hostile.
Historically, the Keiler family crest was a shield with a rampant shaggy boar, often referred to as a boteler (“boar”). The Keiler coat of arms also featured a red and silver checkered pattern that symbolized resilience and determination, which reflected the family's proud heritage and their place in German history.
Today, the Keiler family enjoys a global presence, with many members living in both Europe and the United States. As a lifelong testament to their ancestors, the Keiler name still symbolizes strength, courage, and a timeless connection to the homeland.
Order DNA origin analysisKeiler: Where does the name Keiler come from?
Keiler is a German surname which is primarily found in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, particularly Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also common in the Netherlands and Belgium due to historic migration within the Rhineland region. It is estimated that there are over 35,000 individuals with the Keiler surname currently living in Germany.
In the United States, Keiler is ranked at 78,071 with 349 individuals in 2010. The largest concentrations of Keiler individuals are found in the states of Ohio, California, and Pennsylvania, with the highest densities in Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania.
In the United Kingdom, the Keiler surname is even more uncommon, with an estimated 35 individuals living in the country.
Keiler is also present throughout Canada, Australia, and South America. The population is particularly high in Canada, with an estimated 2,700 individuals residing there in 2016.
In addition, Keiler is found in much smaller numbers in other countries like Mexico, France, Spain, Norway, and Iceland.
Overall, it is clear that the Keiler surname is most common in the countries of its origin, Central Europe, and other German-speaking regions. However, it is important to note that the prevalence of the surname varies greatly across the world.
Variations of the surname Keiler
The surname Keiler is derived from the German language and is also referred to as Kiehl, Kiehle, Kiehler, and Kieller. All variants and spellings of the surname share a similar etymological origin derived from the German word kiehh (@meaning "to radiate, to gleam"). This term evolved to denote a person with fiery red hair or skin, or to indicate a person from a place known as the Kiel region. The variants of the surname can be found as Kellers and Kilers in Germany, Kiellers and Kiellers in the Netherlands, Kiellers and Kielers in Sweden, Kiells in Denmark, Cuiler, Kieler, and Coiler in France and Quiles in Latin America.
In the United States, the surname Keiler can be found spelled in various ways including Keyler, Kailer, and Kyler. Some variant spellings may also be spelt as Kiler, Kieber, Kehl, Kehler, Kehrer, and Keeler. The Keiler surname is most commonly found in Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, France, and Latin American countries.
In addition to the surname Keiler, many families may have changed the spelling of the surname to different spellings over time. Some variants often include multiple spellings such as Kiler, Kiehl, Kiehler, and Kieller. It is important to note that all of these variants of the Keiler surname may not necessarily have the same etymological meaning. As such, researching the origin of a particular spelling could provide insight into the family tree of a particular family.
Famous people with the name Keiler
- Deni Keiler: Soccer player for the German National Team
- Lyndsey Keiler: American actor
- Nick Keiler: American musician
- Adam Keiler: American entrepreneur and the CEO of HOM Company
- Jeff Keiler: Retired American professional basketball player
- Stefan Keiler: Retired 2012 Olympic Judo Player for Germany
- Bernd Keiler: German entrepreneur and founder of the Keiler Group
- Alex Keiler: Professional ski racer and World Cup skier from Germany
- Dirk Keiler: Retired soccer player and member of the German National Team
- George Keiler: Retired minor league baseball pitcher