Surname Kiesle - Meaning and Origin
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Kiesle: What does the surname Kiesle mean?
The surname Kiesle is believed to be of German origin. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "Kiesl" or "Kisl," which first appeared in the thirteenth century and means "barrel maker." This is in reference to a barrel maker or cooper, which is a person who makes or repairs barrels, casks, and other wooden containers. It could also refer to one who owned a brewery, a fisherman, or a landowner.
The name Kiesle may have originated as a nickname, given to a person who did or was associated with this kind of work. Over time, the surname developed into the fixed family name it is today. Many variants exist, such as Kiesler, Keesel, Kiesel, and Kiesele, as well as the Dutch and Flemish spellings Kessel and Kesel.
The name Kiesle is found mainly in the German states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia, as well as Switzerland and Austria. It has been found in records dating back as early as the fifteenth century. In the eighteenth century, the name was often spelled Kessel or Kesel, which suggests that at that time the name was already used in a Dutch-speaking region.
The Kiesle family is now found not only in Germany, but also in the United States and other countries. Today, bearers of the Kiesle surname are likely to be descended from the original barrel maker, making it an interesting piece of family history.
Order DNA origin analysisKiesle: Where does the name Kiesle come from?
The surname Kiesle is primarily of German origin, and is most commonly found in Germany and Austria, as well as countries with significant German populations, such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, the surname is especially common in Wisconsin and Minnesota, which are both home to substantial historical German populations. Wisconsin is particularly noteworthy as the largest population of Kiesles in the United States is located in Milwaukee County.
As of 2020, there are approximately 87,000 Kiesles living in the United States and another 35,000 living in both Germany and Austria. This makes the surname Kiesle one of the most widely dispersed of German surnames, although it is still quite a rare surname overall. In comparison, the most popular German surname, Müller, has an estimated population of over 3 million people.
In terms of hereditary Kiesles, the surname is traced back to the 12th century when it was first registered in the city of Lubeck. The family can be divided into two distinct branches, namely Kiesle von Braun and Kieslestock. The von Braun branch is descended from a Teutonic Knight, while the Kieslestock branch is believed to have been established in the 16th century and spread to North America in the mid to late 19th century.
The surname Kiesle has today become somewhat global, with people of the name now living in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. It is nonetheless still primarily a German surname, and many of those in the United States, Canada, and the UK come from strong German heritage.
Variations of the surname Kiesle
Kiesle is a surname of German and Jewish origin and is derived from the Hebrew word “Kesil”, meaning “Little Lock”. This surname is commonly found in the United States, Germany, and Austria, among other countries.
Variants of the surname Kiesle include Kiesels, Kiesel, Kiesl, Kiesller, Kieseler, Kessl, Kessel, Kesseler, Kœsl, Kösler, and Koesel. There is some debate as to whether Kymes and Kimex are variants of this surname, as they have sound similar to Kiesle, but their origins are more likely from Greek or Hebrew, rather than German.
Spellings and surnames of the same origin include Kissel, Kissle, Kesel, Kisler, Kyzle, Kizel, Kiessler, Kysser, Kyser, Kiesle, Kussler, and Kiseler.
The Kiesle surname is also found in many other countries, with slight variations in spelling and pronunciation. In Russia, it is known as Kizels; in the Netherlands, it is Kiessen; in Hungary, it is Kizelman; and in Hungary, Kizeles. In Poland, the spelling is Kires. In Ireland, it appears as Keesal.
Overall, the surname Kiesle is a typically Germanic surname with multiple variants, spellings, and surnames that share the same origin.
Famous people with the name Kiesle
- Arthur Kiesle: Arthur Kiesle was a former Mormon church leader who was excommunicated in 1993 after urging for the abandonment of the church's policy of excommunicating members for spousal misconduct.
- Tom Kiesle: Tom Kiesle is a former professional hockey player from Canada. He most notably played in the National Hockey League (NHL), retiring from the sport in 2000.
- Hans Kiesle: Hans Kiesle was a German poet who wrote his works primarily in the German language. He was most known for his 1957 poem “Das Leben Läuft”.
- Inge Kiesle: Inge Kiesle was a German-born schoolteacher and political activist who was best known for her involvement in the Red Army Faction and her role in resisting the Nazi regime.
- Leonhard Kiesle: Leonhard Kiesle was a Jewish-German businessman, developer and philanthropist who was involved in the founding of the German-Jewish press in the early 20th century.
- Lorraine Kiesle: Lorraine Kiesle is an American former beauty queen and model who was crowned Miss Oklahoma in 1993.
- Werner Kiesle: Werner Kiesle was a German economist, banker and politician who served as the president of the States’ Bank of Thuringia from 2004-2011.
- Martin Kiesle:Martin Kiesle is a former German football player who is best known for his time playing as a midfielder for the German football team Borussia Neunkirchen.
- Alex Kiesle: Alex Kiesle is a former Austrian downhill skiing champion who won several national championships during his career.
- Bill Kiesle: Bill Kiesle was an American race car driver who competed in the Indianapolis 500 in the mid-1960s and won the Indianapolis 500 in 1969.