Surname Kalteiß - Meaning and Origin

Kalteiß: What does the surname Kalteiß mean?

The last name Kalteiß is a German surname of Slavic origin, derived from the Slavic word "kalt", which means cold. It is likely that the family migrated to German-speaking areas of Europe during the Middle Ages or late antiquity. The name in its original Slavic form is likely to have been spelled with a K prefix, followed by the root word “alt” meaning cold in its Germanic form.

The exact meaning of Kalteiß is unknown, but it is assumed to be related to weather conditions or a physical place that had a cold climate. For example, the suffix -eiß is believed to refer to an area which had a cold climate. Additionally, the name Kalteiß could relate to a geographical location, such as a high mountain or tundra-type region. It is possible that the family members were well-adapted to colder areas and specialty professions such as miners and farmers that needed to work in cold climates or mountains.

The Kalteiß family is believed to have a long history in the German-speaking countries of Europe and could be linked to German noble families as well. There are many variations to the spelling of this name including Kalteis, Kalteiss, Kalteisz, Kalthais, and Kaltes.

Today, the Kalteiß surname is not particularly common but it is still found in many German-speaking countries. Many people with the Kalteiß name still carry on family traditions, with some engaging in professions in colder climates. As such, the name Kalteiß is a tribute to the ancestors of many German-speaking people, a reminder of their heritage and of the unique culture steeped in cold, wholly Germanic climates.

Kalteiß: Where does the name Kalteiß come from?

The surname Kalteiß is relatively uncommon today. It is most prevalent in Germany, with small populations in other countries. In Germany, Kalteiß is predominantly found in Bavaria, which is located in southeastern Germany.

Within Bavaria, Kalteiß is most commonly found in the region surrounding the city of Nuremberg, although the surname is also present in parts of the Upper Franconia, Middle Franconia and Lower Franconia areas of Bavaria. The majority of the population in this region historically spoke Bavarian dialects, so it is likely that the name Kalteiß likely originates from the Bavarian region.

There are also records of Kalteiß emigrating to other countries in Europe during the 19th century, including larger numbers to Austria, Switzerland, and Belgium. There are smaller but still significant populations in other countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States, where it may be found in larger cities or where Germans settled as immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries.

In general, the surname Kalteiß is not amongst the most common surnames in the world, but it has a small presence in some countries with historical ties to Germany. It is likely that many people with the last name Kalteiß may not even be aware that their family is originally from Bavaria, or from Germany in general.

Variations of the surname Kalteiß

The surname Kalteiß is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word “Kalteneis” meaning “cold iron.” It has a long history in both German-speaking countries and other parts of Europe. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Kaltein, Kalteinze, Kalteneise, Kalteneisez, Kalteise, Kalteiss, Kalteisez, Kalteeß, and Kalteiz.

In some instances, the surname Kalteiß has become Anglicized from its Germanic form into other spellings in other countries. In the United States of America, this could include, but is not limited to, spellings of Caldwell, Caldwel, Caldwelz, Coldwell, Coldwel, Caldwile, Coldeell and Caldeltz. In the United Kingdom, the same Anglicization could include such spellings as Coldwills and Caldwal.

In some cases, this surname has been made entirely different from its original meaning, mainly through the translation of Kalteiß into other languages. For example, in Spanish speaking countries, the surname commonly seen is Frío. In French, it becomes Froid. Other translations include Cold in English, Kalt in German, Freddo in Italian and Ledo in Polish.

Although each of these spellings remain different from the other, they still share the same Germanic origin of Kalteiß. All variants, spellings and surnames of this origin originate from a common Germanic root and many share the same meaning of “cold iron.”

Famous people with the name Kalteiß

• Tobias Kalteiß: Tobias Kalteiß is a German sprinter who specializes in the 200-metres and the 400-metres. He currently competes for the LC VfL Merseburg club.
• Uwe Kalteiß: Uwe Kalteiß is a German politician who is a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). He was a minister of economic affairs in Saxony-Anhalt from 2009 to 2014.
• Veera Kalteiß: Veera Kalteiß is a short track speedskater from Finland. In 2013, she won a bronze medal in the 500-metre heats at the ISU Short Track World Championships.
• Pierre Kalteiß: Pierre Kalteiß is an Austrian ski mountaineer. In 2014, he competed in the European Championships, finishing 10th in the team event.
• Paul Kalteiß: Paul Kalteiß is a former German speedskater who competed during the 1980s. He was an Olympic bronze medalist in the 1,000-metre in 1984.
• Kathrin Kalteiß: Kathrin Kalteiß is a German para-athlete who competes mainly in wheelchair racing. She is the current world record holder in the 100 metres wheelchair T53/54.
• Kristin Kalteiß: Kristin Kalteiß is a German professional squash player. She was a semifinalist at the 2013 German Women's Squash Championships.
• Dörte Kalteiß: Dörte Kalteiß is an equestrian from Hamburg, Germany. She currently competes in dressage and show jumping.
• Franz Kalteiß: Franz Kalteiß was a West German football player who played with FC Bayern Munich. He was also part of the German team that won the 1972 UEFA Under-23 Championship.
• André Kalteiß: André Kalteiß is a German professional swimmer. He represented Germany at the FINA World Junior Swimming Championships 2017 and 2018.

Other surnames

KalteisKalteisenKalteißen