Surname Kohlhofer - Meaning and Origin

Kohlhofer: What does the surname Kohlhofer mean?

Kohlhofer is a German last name and is derived from the Middle High German word “Kuhlehoffer”, which originated from the Old High German word “Kuhlafur” meaning “coal military officer”. This name was traditionally used to indicate someone from a household who had the title and/or responsibility of guarding a coal stockpile.

Kohlhofer is a very common German name and can be found in records at least as far back as the Middle Ages. Since the Middle Ages, Kohlhofer has spread to other countries, including the United States. During the 19th century, many German speaking immigrants came to the U.S. and their surname could be found in various U.S. records and documents at that time.

Today, the Kohlhofer name is still quite common in Germany, as well as other countries, such as Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Slovakia.

Kohlhofer surname is derived from a humble, if important, profession, that of protecting a precious coal stockpile. Today, the Kohlhofer name is still in use, though with vastly different responsibilities. No matter where it’s used, the Kohlhofer family name stands today as a symbol of humble roots and resilience.

Kohlhofer: Where does the name Kohlhofer come from?

The last name Kohlhofer is rooted in Central and Northern Europe and is most commonly found in Austria and Germany today. In the early 1800s, individuals with this surname moved to the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Mexico, as well as other countries, including Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, England, France, and Sweden. A significant number of individuals with the surname Kohlhofer also reside in Israel, indicating that the family likely has Jewish lineage.

Kohlhofer is derived from the German word "Kuhl," meaning "a kind of watercourse, usually in a valley, with a shallow channel." This surname is among the 5,000 most common in Germany, and 2,500 most common in Austria. Austria is the country with the highest concentration of individuals with the Kohlhofer surname, followed by the USA.

In the United States, the states with the highest numbers of individuals with the Kohlhofer surname are Wisconsin, California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. Within the states, the cities with the highest concentration of Kohlhofer individuals are Bothell, WA; Oshkosh, Wisconsin; Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; Milan, Michigan; and Tucson, Arizona.

The Kohlhofer surname is quite rare in its current form, however, despite its concentration in Austria and Germany, it is recognized throughout the world. This global popularity is likely due to European emigration. Individuals with the Kohlhofer surname continue to trace their ancestry to Austria and Germany while also celebrating their distant global roots.

Variations of the surname Kohlhofer

The Kohlhofer surname has several variant spellings, including Kohlhafen, Kohlhaaf, Kohlhoff, Kohlhofen and Kohlhaufen. All of these variant spellings are derived from the same German origin, and all mean "charcoal-producer." The surname likely began as an occupational name for people who produced charcoal, an important source of fuel in medieval German villages.

Some other popular related surnames include Kohlhof, Kohlhaas, Kohlhase, Kolhof, Kolfhoven, Kolfhouse, Kowalhoff, Kowalhafer, Pfalzgraf, and Schwengel. These surnames have similar German or Dutch origins and share the meaning of "coppersmith" or "tin-maker." The spelling variations of Kohlhofer likely originated from different dialects of Middle Low German, an old West Germanic language, which was commonly spoken in the region where the Kohlhofer surname originated.

The Kohlhofer surname can also be found in various forms in other countries over the centuries, including Canada, the United States, Australia, and Israel. In these countries, people with the Kohlhofer surname likely settled in the same areas and thus influenced one another through dialect, trade, and other practices.

In conclusion, the Kohlhofer surname has a wide range of spelling variations and related surnames, all of which share the same German origin. It is likely that different dialects of Middle Low German are responsible for many of these spelling variations, as well as migrations of the Kohlhofer family to other countries.

Famous people with the name Kohlhofer

• Gerd Kohlhofer: German explorer, soil scientist, and ecologist who won the Balzan Prize for "his pioneering work on the study of plant ecology.
• Martin Kohlhofer: Austrian professional basketball player who holds the all-time Austrian basketball assists record for a single season (2003-2004).
• Christina Kohlhofer: Austrian singer and musician, winner of the 2009 Austrian Jazz Award.
• Lisa Kohlhofer: Austrian model and winner of the 2002 Miss Austria beauty pageant.
• Thomas Kohlhofer: Austrian composer and musician, winner of the 2007 Robert-Edler-Award for Composition.
• Ernst Kohlhofer: Austrian actor, active between the 1970s and 1980s.
• Stephanie Kohlhofer: Austrian ultra-distance runner, participant in the 2012 London marathon.
• Herbert Kohlhofer: Austrian professional boxer who held the Austrian super flyweight championship in 1997.
• Friedrich Kohlhofer: Austrian painter, mostly known for his landscapes.
• Hubert Kohlhofer: Austrian industrialist, who served as president of Industriellenvereinigung, from 1997 to 2001.

Other surnames

KohlhofKohlhoff