Surname Kirchmann - Meaning and Origin
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Kirchmann: What does the surname Kirchmann mean?
The surname Kirchmann originated in Germany and is derived from the German word “Kirche” meaning “church.” It is believed that the surname is likely derived from a personal name, Kirch, or could have been used to denote an individual who worked in or had some connection to a church.
Historically, the Kirchmann surname has a range of spellings, including Kirschman, Kirschmann, Kerchman, and Krechmann. As the surname spread throughout Europe and beyond, over time spellings may have been altered to fit the particular regions spelling conventions or pronunciation.
The earliest record of the Kirchmann surname can be traced back to a recorded marriage between Andreas Kirchmann and Avelina Heckel in 1547. The Kirchmann family name was first recorded in the German region of Baden-Wurttemburg where Andreas and Avelina lived at the time.
Today, the surname Kirchmann is found in many countries, including Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, United States, Canada, England, and Australia. Those with this moniker can be found in many professions and walks of life around the world.
The surname Kirchmann is an enduring legacy that is shared with many people. It is a testament to the strength of family, regardless of its origin or history.
Order DNA origin analysisKirchmann: Where does the name Kirchmann come from?
The last name Kirchmann is most commonly found in Germany and other German-speaking countries. Within Germany, the surname is most common in the states of Bavaria and Saxony. However, it can also be found in small numbers in other countries, including the United States where many German immigrants settled in the 1800s.
In the United States, the highest concentration of Kirchmanns is in Pennsylvania. The surname is likely to have migrated to the US from Germany in the late 19th and early 20th centuries along with many other German immigrants.
In the 2010 United States Census, 8,839 people had the surname Kirchmann. Within the US, the largest concentrations are in California and Pennsylvania, with smaller concentrations in the northwest, Midwest, and mid-Atlantic regions. On a global basis, according to Forebears, an online genealogy database, the Kirchmann surname is the 28,118th most common last name in the world, with an estimated 8,994 people holding the name in 2020.
The name is derived from Germanic elements, with “Kirchen” meaning “church” and “mann” meaning “man”. This likely referred to someone originally employed at a church or religious institution.
Variations of the surname Kirchmann
Kirchmann is a German surname that is derived from the word "Kirche," which means "church." The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Kirchmann include Kirchmaier, Kirchmayer, Kirchmeir, Kirchmeier, Kirchner, Kirchoff, Kirche, Kirchem, Kircher, Kirchell, Kirchelly, Kirchemly, Kirchens, Kircherman, Kirchermann, Kirchemmann, Kirchermeyer, Kirchhofer, Kirchhoffer, Kirchhammer, Kirschbaum, Kirschberg, Kirschbicker, Kirschenbaum, Kirschenberger and Kirschenman.
The variants of Kirchmann are derived from the Germanic language, with "Kirch" meaning church, and "Maan," which is a suffix for estate, having the meaning of "people who lived by the church." The spelling variants are mainly to emphasize regional variations in language and dialect. The more modern spelling Kirschmann is used in Germany and Denmark. The names Kirchoff and Kirschberg are also derived from the same base origin.
Kirchem is derived from the French spelling of “Kirch” and is thought to originate from the Alsace region in France. Kirchenaw and Kirschbicker are derived from Germanic words. Kirschbaum has originated from the Middle High German words kirchinboum, meaning “church tree”, and is thought to denote a person who lived by a holy tree near a church.
Kirchhofer is derived from Middle High German origins and likely denotes someone who lived near a lake that had a monastery, while Kirschhammer is derived from a combination of the words "Kirch" and "hammer" meaning “church and hammer” and likely denotes a blacksmith who worked near a church.
Famous people with the name Kirchmann
- Gustav Kirchmann (1837-1903): A German teacher and writer who founded a school for young people in Berlin, which became a benchmark for other educational institutions.
- Paul Kirchmann (1835-1918): A German painter, lithographer, and book illustrator dating from the 19th century.
- Karin Kirchmann (1955-): A German artist whose sculptural work and installations often incorporate elements of nature and the body.
- Rose Kirchmann (1882-1959): A German-born American essayist, playwright, novelist, editor, and translator.
- Maurice Kirchmann (1846-1916): A French painter known for his portraiture, still life, and landscaping.
- Ludwig Kirchmann (1892-1950): A German botanist, zoologist, ecologist, and philosopher.
- Ilse Kirchmann (1920-2005): A German actress best known for her work in the theatre.
- Dieter Kirchmann (1933-): A German actor, film director, and screenwriter.
- Johann Kirchmann (1894-1981): A German painter and graphic artist known for his Expressionist landscapes.
- Sophie Kirchmann (1994-): An Austrian singer, songwriter, and actress.