Surname Kehle - Meaning and Origin
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Kehle: What does the surname Kehle mean?
The last name Kehle is of German origin and is believed to have been derived from the German word kehle, which means ravine or narrow valley. It is also thought to be based on the German kehle, meaning neck.
The earliest record of the Kehle family is from around 1500, when Simon Kehle (anglicized to Kayhill) was born in East Prussia. The Kehles were prominent in East Prussia and eventually moved southward into Bavaria and Saxony.
In time, the Kehles evolved into a prominent family of musicians, doctors, lawyers, and merchants. They were especially prominent among the medical profession in Germany, especially in the cities of Bavaria and Saxony. Among the notable Kehles from this era are Dr. Johann Kaspar Kehle (1730-1802), noted doctor and professor of medicine in Altdorf, Bavaria, and Dr. Karl Heinrich Kehle (1749-1828), also a physician and professor of medicine in Bamberg, Saxony.
Today, Kehles can be found all over the world, particularly in Germany, the United States, and Australia. They are a proud family with a bold and esteemed history. Though they may have varied backgrounds and occupations, they all share a timeless heritage that celebrates strength of character, hard work, and innovation.
Order DNA origin analysisKehle: Where does the name Kehle come from?
The last name Kehle is most commonly found in Germany. It has been recorded in the country since the 13th century, when the first mention of it appeared in the city of Koeln. As many German surnames, it was likely derived from a German word meaning "throat"; the name "Kehle" is cognate with English "choke".
Today, the Kehle surname is most prevalent in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Hesse, all located in southwest Germany. In Norway, there is also a notable presence of bearers of the name, particularly in the county of Møre og Romsdal.
In the United States, the Kehle surname is most likely to be encountered in the states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. These states have long-standing German populations that are likely descended from immigrants bearing this surname from Germany.
In today's Germany, approximately 8,900 individuals are estimated to bear the Kehle surname, while 11,500 are living with it in all of Europe. There are also roughly 700 families residing in the United States with the Kehle name, spanning most of the continental United States.
Variations of the surname Kehle
The surname Kehle is a German surname that has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
The most common variants and spellings of the surname include Koehle, Köhle, Köhlen, Köhl, Köhlin, Kölins, Kehl, Kehlen, Kehlin, Koell, Köell, Kohl, Koel, Köel, Koelle, Koelling, Köelling, Köling, Kehlle, Kohle, Koele, Köele, Köle, Kuehle, Köhles, Köhlens, Keoel, and Kuehl.
The surnames of the same origin to Kehle include Kaehle, Kehlenhoff, Kehlener, Kahel, Kahl, Kahle, Kelch, Köhlmeier, Köhley, Koelber, Köllner, Kölsch, Köhler, Köhler-Hennes, Kuhles or Kuhl, and Kalin.
These are all variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin as the surname Kehle. All of these last names are derived from the German word köhlen, which means to burn or be cool, and they were likely taken on by those who worked in the charcoal making or charcoal selling trade. This is why many of the last names listed here have a similar meaning and sound to the word köhlen and why they are all related.
Famous people with the name Kehle
- Denise Kehle: Denise is a Los Angeles-based yogi who runs an at-home yoga practice which has been featured in Huffington Post, The Chalkboard Magazine, and other publications.
- Gregg Kehle: Gregg is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues for the Oakland Athletics and later worked in the front office for the Atlanta Braves organizations.
- Sabrina Kehle: Sabrina is a German equestrian athlete who has competed in show jumping and dressage at the highest levels. She is a multiple-time winner of the FEI Rolex World Cup and has competed at the Olympics three times.
- Christian Kehle: Christian is a German entrepreneur and investor who is the founder and CEO of the venture capital firm Kehle Ventures. He holds a business degree from Stanford and is an avid collector of classic and contemporary art.
- Mark Kehle: Mark is an American cross-country ski racer who competed in the 2014 Winter Olympics for Team USA.
- Jacob Kehle: Jacob is a businessman and CEO of the financial services company, Kehle Associates. He is a former partner at Goldman Sachs and has been featured in Bloomberg Businessweek and Forbes.
- Kevin Kehle: Kevin is a musician and composer from New York City. He has worked with many artists, including Madonna, Elton John, and Quincy Jones, among others.
- Joseph Kehle: Joseph is a Catholic Bishop in the Diocese of Victoria in Texas. He has served as Bishop since 2008 and has also held positions at Notre Dame and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.