Surname Köhlen - Meaning and Origin
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Köhlen: What does the surname Köhlen mean?
The last name Köhlen is a German surname derived from the word “Köhl”, which is an old German word for “cool”. It's found predominantly in Germany, as well as a few other parts of Europe.
The Köhlen surname has a long and interesting history, with historical records indicating that original bearers of the name originated in the regions of Bavaria, Saxony and Thuringia. It's believed that the name refers to those living in cool, moist places. It may also stem from an occupation, such as the work of a miller who grinds grain or works with clay or clay-lined cores. Variations of the name, such as Köhl, Köhner, Köhne, Köhler and Köhlmann are also found.
As the Köhlen surname has been found in various parts of Europe, it is difficult to identify exactly where it originated. However, records indicate that the dawn of the surname would have been sometime during the Middle Ages, when surnames first became popular in Europe.
The Köhlen surname is fairly rare today, but is still found in small numbers in Germany and throughout Europe. Its bearers have gone on to many different parts of the world, and are now found in countries such as the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Order DNA origin analysisKöhlen: Where does the name Köhlen come from?
The last name Köhlen appears to be most common in Germany, with smaller concentrations in Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United States.
In Germany, about a thousand people currently bear the Köhlen name. The state with the most Köhlen residents is Nordrhein-Westfalen, followed by Niedersachsen, Baden-Württemberg, and Bayern. In Switzerland, Köhlen is very rare and is mostly found in the Canton of Appenzell Inner-Rhoden. In the Netherlands, Köhlen is primarily found in the province of Limburg.
In the United States, the Köhlen surname is found mostly in the states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Florida. Of the 105 Köhlen residents listed in the 2020 United States census, about a third of them live in Michigan. About a quarter of Köhlen residents in the US live in Wisconsin. Many of the Köhlen families in the US first immigrated to Michigan in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Internationally, the name Köhlen does not reach the same levels of popularity as many other last names. However, its unique spelling and association with Germany and Swiss German culture make it an interesting family name to research and discover more about.
Variations of the surname Köhlen
The variants, spellings and surnames of Köhlen are Koehlen, Cohlen, Koehlin, Cohlin, Coehlen, Köehlen, Kölin, Kolin, Koelin, Koehling, Cohling, Koehl, Kohl, Kohlen, Kohlhahn, Kahlen, Kohlhepp, Kuohlen, Kuhlen, Kuhling, Kuhlmann and Kühlen.
Köhlen is a German habitational surname with a history of origin in the Rhineland area of northern Germany. It is derived from the surname ‘Köhl’ meaning ‘coal’ or ‘charcoal’ and the agent suffix '-en'-suggesting a resident of said place. It is likely that the house and the founders of this clan of Köhlen were significant enough to have their own family name.
The spellings of Köhlen typically correspond with the regional dialect, with different dialects having different behaviours and consequently, different choices of spellings. For example, Koehlen, Cohlen and Koehlin are often found in the southern states, while northern states tend to have Köehlen, Kölin and Kolin.
Variations of Köhlen include Koehling, Cohling, Koehl, Kohl, Kohlen, Kohlhahn, Kahlen, Kohlhepp, Kuohlen, Kuhlen, Kuhling, Kuhlmann and Kühlen. Of these spellings, the ‘Kohl’ spelling is the most common in Germany. Other surnames that share the same or a similar origin are Köhler, Köhlers, Köhling, Köhlmeier and Köhn.
Köhlen is a German name originating from the Rhineland area, and is a combination of the name ‘Köhl’, meaning ‘coal’ or ‘charcoal’, and the agent suffix ‘-en’. The variants, spellings and surnames of this origin include Köhlen, Koehlen, Cohlen, Koehlin, Cohlin, Coehlen, Köehlen, Kölin, Kolin, Koelin, Koehling, Cohling, Koehl, Kohl, Kohlen, Kohlhahn, Kahlen, Kohlhepp, Kuohlen, Kuhlen, Kuhling, Kuhlmann and Kühlen.
Famous people with the name Köhlen
- Christine Köhlen: German actress, often cast in roles on television.
- Grete Köhlen: German tennis player, who competed in the first singles competition at the 19th Austrian Championships in 1961.
- Julius Köhlen: German officer who fought in World War II and was awarded the Iron Cross.
- Julius Köhlen: German opera conductor, who was the chief conductor at the Graz State Opera from 1959 to 1961.
- Uwe Köhlen: German engineer and aircraft designer, responsible for developing the MBB/Kawasaki BK 117.
- Peter Köhlen: German chess grandmaster, who won the German Chess Championship in 1975.
- Alfred Köhlen: German sculptor and painter, known for his art deco-style sculptures.
- Wolfgang Köhlen: German linguist and professor, who taught at the University of Frankfurt from 1951 to 1992.
- Dirk Köhlen: German football coach, who managed clubs including Bayer Leverkusen, VfL Bochum and RW Oberhausen.
- Heinrich Köhlen: German engineer and inventor, who developed the first submarine capable of underwater navigation.