Surname Kihm - Meaning and Origin

Kihm: What does the surname Kihm mean?

The last name Kihm is of German origin. This surname is a variant of the German surname "Kühn," which originated from the Middle High German word "kuon," meaning "bold" or "daring." It was often attributed as a descriptive name to people known for their bold or audacious characteristics. Like many other surnames, it began as a nickname and eventually transitioned into a family name. It is also important to note that surname meanings can vary widely, as they were often developed based on unique circumstances or attributes associated with specific familial lines. Therefore, while the origin of the name Kihm can be traced, its meaning may have other interpretations or connotations attached to it, depending on the family's history. It's also found in some regions of South Korea, but it is much less common and the meaning might be different in this context.

Kihm: Where does the name Kihm come from?

The surname Kihm is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word 'kühn' which meant 'bold' or 'brave', often used as a descriptive nickname for a bold or brave person. It may have also been ascribed to people who exhibit characteristics associated with being brave.

As with many other surnames, they change over time due to dialect, accent, and regional influence. So, ‘kühn’ might have evolved to Kihm. It is important to note that multiple origins could exist for a surname as families in different regions might adopt or be given similar surnames with different origins or meanings.

Today, the last name Kihm is not extremely common but can be found in several countries worldwide. The highest frequency of the Kihm surname is found in the United States, primarily in the Midwestern region. It is also present in Germany, reflecting its roots, as well as in other countries in Europe and across the globe, likely due to migration. However, in all these locations, the name is not particularly common when compared to other surnames.

Variations of the surname Kihm

The surname Kihm is quite rare and originates from Germany. Other surnames related to Kihm may have also come from Germany or the surrounding regions. Variations of it could depend on the linguistic, cultural, or regional differences over time.

Some possible variants and spellings include Kuhm, Khiem, Kim, Köhm, Kem, and Kehm. For instance, Khiem is a Vietnamese version which may bear phonetic similarities. Kim is a popular Korean surname that may be mistaken for Kihm due to the striking phonetic resemblance. In some German dialects, words do interchange and vowels might get replaced by others yielding variants like Kuhm, Köhm, Kem, and Kehm.

It's important to note that these variants do not necessarily indicate any familial link or common ancestry with people named Kihm. Determining actual familial connections would require detailed genealogical research.

That being said, bear in mind that any connections would more likely be related to German-speaking cultures or countries due to the origin of the surname Kihm.

Famous people with the name Kihm

• Mike Kihm — a professional basketball player who has played with the New Jersey Nets and Toronto Raptors from 1992 to 1998.
• Wolfgang Kihm — a former German professional footballer who played for clubs such as Borussia Mönchengladbach and 1. FC Köln.
• Petra Kihm — German Olympic snowboarder who competed for Germany in the 2006 Winter Olympics.
• Frank Kihm — a German composer, conductor, and concert pianist, whose works have been performed around the world.
• Jeffrey Kihm: a professor of theology at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and a leading expert on liberation theology.
• Nora Kihm— an independent filmmaker, whose work has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Variety Magazine.
• Durim Kihm — Albanian folk singer, known for his traditional songs in the Gheg Albanian dialect.
• Nemanja Kihm — Serbian handball player, currently playing with THW Kiel in the Bundesliga.
• Janice Kihm — American author of novels, children's books, and short stories.
• Robert Kihm — American actor and producer, known for his role as Detective Matthew Bridget on the television series Law & Order.

Other surnames

KiheganKihnlKihsler