Surname Kessmacher - Meaning and Origin
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Kessmacher: What does the surname Kessmacher mean?
The last name Kessmacher is a German surname that originated from the region of Hesse in Germany. The name is derived from the German word "Kess" which means "frame" or "structure" and "macher" which means "maker". Therefore, the name Kessmacher literally translates to "frame maker" or "structural maker" and likely identifies an ancestor of the family who was a builder or carpenter. It is a very old occupational surname, quite common in Germany and other German-speaking countries.
The surname is found in many European records dating as far back as the medieval era. It is believed to have been used by refugees that left Germany during the 17th century and resettled in other parts of Europe. In the United States, the surname Kessmacher is found in several records in states like Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania.
The surname Kessmacher is also found throughout countries in Europe such as Germany, Netherlands, and Switzerland. Additionally, it is found in small numbers in Latin America, specifically in countries like Brazil and Argentina.
The last name Kessmacher is a reminder of the hard work of our ancestors and their ability to build and make things. It is a testament to those that shaped the world and left us with the house frames and structures still standing today.
Order DNA origin analysisKessmacher: Where does the name Kessmacher come from?
The last name Kessmacher is most common today in Germany and the surrounding areas, particularly in the southwestern part of the country. Records show that the Kessmachers have been in Europe since at least the 1700s, though it’s believed the family may have had its roots there long before that. By the early 1800s, the Kessmacher family had mostly developed a presence in the Bavarian region, with many members having emigrated to the bordering Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg states by 1900.
Today, the Kessmacher name remains common in these areas, along with pockets of frequency in Switzerland, Austria, The Netherlands, and the Czech Republic. It is estimated that roughly 25,000 Kessmachers are living in Germany alone.
The name may also have spread to the United States in the late 1800s, as some Kessmacher family records appear in American immigration documents. It is estimated that there are fewer than 1,000 Kessmachers living in the United States today, with the majority of them being located in Pennsylvania, Texas, and California.
Outside of the United States, Canada and other countries in Europe, there are only small concentrations of the Kessmacher name. Families have spread to Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand over the past century, though it remains much more uncommon there than in its Germanic homeland.
Variations of the surname Kessmacher
The surname Kessmacher is believed to be derived from the Middle High German term for 'Cheesemaker'. As a result, variants of the surname Kessmacher in different languages are generally related to the cheese-making business.
In German, other variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin are Käsmacher, Küsmacher, Kösmacher, Kiusmacher, Kismacher, Kiesmacher, Kaesmacher, Kaismacher, Kaißmacher, Käißmacher, Kaizmacher and Kazzmacher. Similarly, in Dutch Keesmacher is a variant spelling, and in Luxembourgish Kossmacher is used.
In English, variants and spellings of Kessmacher include Cheesemaker, Cheese Maker and Cheese-maker. Later derivations of the original variant incorporate similar spellings with additional incorporated letters, such as Cheesemacher and Cheesemakers.
Different countries have added additional letters, spelling variations and suffixes to some of the above variants, creating even more variations. Examples include Kasmacher (Austria), Kesmacher (Germany), Kiesmacher (Romania), Kismescher (Poland) and Kutzmacher (Czech Republic).
Variations of Kessmacher also exist as a result of modifications to the original spelling as it is passed down through generations, such as Kesemacher, Kaysmacher and Kismacher. It is also possible to find related surnames which originate from the same source, such as Cassmacher (Germany), Kissmacher (France) and Kaissmach (Austria).
Famous people with the name Kessmacher
- Michael Kessmacher, German farmer and actor
- Marilyn Kessmacher, American fashion designer
- Kurt Kessmacher, Austrian former footballer
- Robert Kessmacher, German member of the German Navy
- Helen Kessmacher, American best-selling author
- Karl Kessmacher, German chemist and researcher
- Chris Kessmacher, Canadian professional ice hockey player
- Martina Kessmacher, German fashion model
- Sam Kessmacher, American musician
- Marcus Kessmacher, German entrepreneur