Surname Keufner - Meaning and Origin
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Keufner: What does the surname Keufner mean?
The last name Keufner is of German and Swiss descent and is derived from the Germanic personal name Kaufmann, which means "merchant" or "trader". Variations of this name include Kauffmann, Kaufner, Kauffener, Kuffner, and Keufner. This occupational name likely would have been given to a merchant or trader in medieval times, either in reference to their profession or to denote a person who lived near a marketplace.
The Keufner name was common throughout Switzerland and Europe for many centuries. There are records of this surname in the early 1500s. Keufner families were most often found in the Swiss cantons, especially in the Basel city and the Aargau region. This is likely the area of origin for the Keufner family line, as many family historian records can be traced back to Basel.
In modern times, the Keufner name is still found throughout Switzerland and Europe. As the family spread, the name can be found in the United States, Canada, and other parts of the world. Though the original meaning of the surname is "merchant" or "trader," the Keufner name is now associated with any individual who can trace their lineage back to early European origins.
Order DNA origin analysisKeufner: Where does the name Keufner come from?
The last name Keufner is most common today in Germany, especially in the western and northern parts of the country. There is also a small concentration of Keufners in the United States, particularly in the Midwest states of Illinois, Wisconsin and Ohio.
In Germany, the most popular cities for people with the last name Keufner are Berlin, Essen, Hanover, Hamburg, Munich, and Cologne. Outside of Germany, major metropolitan areas with significant Keufner populations include Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and St. Louis.
The history of the Keufner name dates back to the 1200s, when the first known person bearing the name lived in what is now Germany. It's likely that the origin of the name comes from the German words 'ich kaue ferner,' which translates to 'I chew afar' or 'I chew elsewhere.' This suggests that the name was given to someone who traveled often.
The Keufner name is common throughout much of Europe, and has spread from its Germanic roots to other parts of the world. Today, it is likely that more than one in three thousand people bear the last name Keufner.
Variations of the surname Keufner
Keufner is a German surname. It is an occupational surname derived from the Middle High German language and means "beer carrier". Some variations on the spelling of the surname include Kuefner, Keuffner, Käufner, Kuffner and Kuffener. Additionally in some areas of Germany the name has been changed to Kaufner due to a spelling reform or due to local dialects. Some of the alternative spellings of Kufner may also be found in Switzerland, Austria and other German-speaking areas.
In some cases, Keufner may have evolved into other surnames, as immigrants assimilated into their new homeland and changed the spelling of their name to suit the region they settled in. These alternative forms of Keufner may include Koffner, Kuepfer, Kauffer, Kauffmann, Kufner, Kaefner, Kaeffner, and Kauffner.
Keufner is also related to the English surname Cooper because of the similar mean of the two names. Surnames like Coopman, Cooprider, and Cooperider are all related to Cooper and could have evolved from the Keufner surname.
Furthermore, the Keufner surname may also have been adopted by other countries because of migration. It is possible to find various versions of the surname in areas such as Spain, France, England and Poland, often in a form adapted to the local language.
Famous people with the name Keufner
- Wil Keufner: Wil is a Rio Olympic bobsled champion who as an athlete competed in bobsleigh, skeleton, and cycling.
- Scott Keufner: Scott is an American former professional ice hockey player and coach.
- Floyd Keufner Jr.: Floyd is a former quarter-mile drag racing driver and former world record holder.
- Marion Keufner: Marion is a Senior Research Scientist and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of California, Irvine.
- Margaret Keufner: Margaret is a former American professional golfer.
- Margaret Smith Keufner: Margaret is an American sculptor and artist.
- Christian Keufner: Christian is a German entrepreneur and founder and CEO of Koeufner International Group.
- Jana Keufner: Jana is a German footballer who plays as a midfielder for Wittelsbacher FC.
- David Keufner: David is a German actor.
- Stephanie Keufner: Stephanie is a German ice hockey player for EHC Red Bull München and the German national team.