Surname Kestner - Meaning and Origin
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Kestner: What does the surname Kestner mean?
The last name Kestner is a German surname with some roots in Bavarian history. It is derived from the German personal name Konrad, which means “bold counsel” or “wise advice”.
The original spelling of the name given to the first person who used this surname is believed to be Künster. This spelling gradually morphed over time to Kestner.
Kestner families have been found in the Bavarian regions of Landshut, Ausbicsch, and Nürnberg, as well as several other Germanic regions. These families made their original living as farmers or merchants, and the surname has spread to other countries like America.
The Kestners who immigrated to America have played significant and noteworthy roles in the American development. Famous Kestners include abolitionist and statesman Henry Kestner and William J. Kestner, the philanthropist and businessman who was an early member of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.
The name Kestner is associated with a sense of wisdom, bravery, and strength. It is a proud and respected name of Germanic ancestry.
Order DNA origin analysisKestner: Where does the name Kestner come from?
The last name Kestner is most commonly found in Germany and the United States. In Germany, the name is most often found in the Northwestern and Southern parts of the country. In the U.S., it is most commonly found in the states of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. It is also found in other parts of the U.S., but not in as high of concentrations as the aforementioned states.
The Kestner family was likely of German origin, as evidenced by the regional concentration of the name. In a survey conducted in 1982, the name Kestner was reportedly the 1,229th most common name in Germany. This suggests that the Kestner family line has existed in the country for some time.
The popularity of the name in the U.S. likely originated with a large group of German immigrants who migrated to the U.S. in the 19th century. This is reflected in the numerous settlements of Kestner families in the Midwest and Pennsylvania.
Kestner is still a relatively common name today in both Germany and the U.S. In Germany, the name ranks at about the 3,000th most common name and in the U.S., it is in the top 10,000 most common names. This suggests that the Kestner family line has remained strong over the centuries and is likely to remain so in the future.
Variations of the surname Kestner
The surname Kestner has several different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The primary spelling of the surname is Kestner, but other spellings of the name include Kestnerr, Kestnerer, Kestnerre, Kestnarr, Kirstner, Kirstnerr, Kirstnerer, Kirstnerre, Kirstnarr and Küstner. These spellings all originate from the German language, and are all derived from the Middle High German word 'keinsteiner', which means 'stonecutter'.
In some cases, the surname has been Anglicized to sounds similar to or phonetically spelled as Küstner, Custner, Kinstner, Cinstner, Kunstner, Kunstnerr or Kunstnerer.
In addition to the various spellings of the surname, it also has multiple surnames of the same origin. This includes, but is not limited to, Kinster, Kinstler, Kintzler, Kientzler, Kintseler, Kintseler, Kintsler, Kintzler and Kützler.
Due to immigration, the surname has been found to be present in multiple European countries and regions including the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Austria, The Netherlands and Norway. It is also found in North America, with Canadian and American citizens bearing the surname.
In conclusion, the surname Kestner has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. It has been found throughout Europe and North America, and still remains a popular surname today.
Famous people with the name Kestner
- Matthew Kestner: American actor and voice actor.
- Andy Kestner: Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
- Edward Kestner: Canadian politician and diplomat.
- Sean Kestner: American professional wrestler.
- John Kestner: American software architect and computer scientist.
- Josh Kestner: American actor, film producer and director.
- Manny Kestner: American football player.
- Stephen Kestner: American historian, archaeologist and professor.
- David Kestner: American neuroscientist and the former head of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
- Tristan Kestner: French composer and music producer.