Surname Kesselheim - Meaning and Origin
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Kesselheim: What does the surname Kesselheim mean?
The last name Kesselheim is derived from the German word "Kessel," meaning "cauldron" or "kettle." This reflects a location in Germany that was historically known for its metalworking industry and specifically the production of kettles. As a result, the family name can be interpreted as indicating an ancestral origin in that region.
The surname has been known by various spellings such as Kesselheim, Kesselschmied, and Kesselschmidt, and dates back to the early 12th century. The earliest records of the name were found in the Stuttgart archives of southwest Germany.
Though today the surname Kesselheim is spread all over the world, it was originally an occupational Matthews family name that would have designated the person to be a well-known kettle maker or cauldron smith. This is backed up by various census records from Germany which indicate the majority of people with this name were indeed associated with metalworking.
Culturally, the Kesselheim surname symbolizes hard work, determination, and a dedication to craftsmanship. The humble beginnings of the family as metalworkers remains a central legacy in today’s culture. This legacy is a reflection of the strong sense of family identity that characterizes the current Kesselheim family.
Order DNA origin analysisKesselheim: Where does the name Kesselheim come from?
The last name Kesselheim is common in certain parts of Germany today. In 2010, around 3,300 people with the last name Kesselheim lived in Germany, and the vast majority were concentrated in the southern region.
A large number of Kesselheims lived in the historic region of Bavaria which is now part of the federal state of Bavaria. Here, the most common locality was Schwabach, a town in the district of Middle Franconia. Other clusters of Kesselheims lived in Baden-Wurttemberg and Lower Saxony.
In the 2016 Census, around 860 Kesselheims could be found in the US. The name’s highest concentration in the US was in the Upper Midwest with clusters in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Specific locations included Racine County in Wisconsin, Cook County in Illinois, and Hennepin County in Minnesota. In recent years, the number of Kesselheims in the US has stabilized at around 800-900 individuals.
The Kesselheims may have originated from multiple areas of Germany but they are most common in regions around present-day Bavaria. Migration to the US in the 19th and 20th centuries has spread the name to other regions, primarily the Upper Midwest. Today, the clusters in Germany and the US remain distinct.
Variations of the surname Kesselheim
The surname Kesselheim originates from northern Germany and is derived from the Middle High German words “kessil” (which means a pot/jug) and “heim” (which means home). Variants of the name in German include Kesselaym, Kesselheim, Kesselheym, Kessilheim, and Kaslheim. In the Low Countries, the surname is sometimes spelled as Kestelijn, Kesselaers, Kesselaar, Kesselaar, and Kesselaers. In the United States the surname is often spelled as Kesselheim, Kassleman, Kaslman, Kasselman, and Kessleman.
In other parts of Europe, the surname may be spelled as Kesler, Kesslar, Kesselar, Kesseler, Kessseler, Keseller, Kesselmann, Kesely, Kesselar, Keslar, Kesselry, Kesler, Kendel, and Kendelmann.
In addition, there are numerous variations of the surname that can be discovered in the archives, many of which include spelling mistakes made by transcribers or code-switching due to the various languages encountered within different areas. These variants may generally be attributed to the change in spelling conventions as language of a particular region evolved over time.
The variant surnames above illustrate the many permutations of what was once the same family name and is a testament to how families move throughout the world, taking their surnames with them but allowing the spelling and pronunciation to be slightly altered to fit the local language.
Famous people with the name Kesselheim
- Aaron Kesselheim: American physician, professor, and researcher specializing in health policy and medical ethics
- Jesper Kesselheim: Danish historian and author
- Jean Kesselheim: American anthropologist with a focus on Central Asia
- Fritz Kesselheim: 19th-century German sculptor known for his works commemorating historical figures and events
- Marie Luise Kesselheim: German classicist and linguist
- John Kesselheim: American politician, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
- Jacob Kesselheim: 19th-century German painter known for his landscapes
- Lucille Kesselheim: American actress of stage, television, and film
- Joseph Kesselheim: French fighter pilot and writer
- Peter Kesselheim: mid-20th-century German track athlete and paralympian