Surname Kirchof - Meaning and Origin
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Kirchof: What does the surname Kirchof mean?
The last name Kirchof is of German origin and is derived from the Germanic surname "Kirche", which translates to "church". It was likely a surname given to people who lived near or worked in a church, such as a priest or a bell maker.
The word ‘Kirchof’ can have a variety of meanings, depending on the region of Germany where it is used. In some areas, it is a contraction of ‘Kirchenhof’ which means ‘churchyard’ and was used to refer to people who lived near a church or who worked in a church. In the Palatinate region, it is believed to mean ‘church-tower guard’.
In Jewish families, Kirchhof is sometimes a variant spelling of the more common Krichhoff, with the same origin in Germanic language.
Kirchof is also seen in other countries, such as the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands. People with this surname likely have ancestors from these countries or have emigrated and taken their name with them.
The Kirchof family name is a reminder of the importance of places of worship and those who serve in them. It’s a common name, but it isn’t widely used outside of German-speaking countries, which makes it unique.
Order DNA origin analysisKirchof: Where does the name Kirchof come from?
The last name Kirchof is most common in Germany and other German-speaking countries in Europe. Records indicate that it was first used as a surname in the 1400s in Germany. It derived from the German words “Kirchhof” which means “churchyard”, and “Hof” which translates to “court”. This suggests that the original bearers of the name likely worked as court officials at a church or in some other ecclesiastical capacity.
Today, the Kirchhof family name can be found concentrated primarily in southwestern Germany. The regions of Baden-Wurttemberg, Hesse, Bavaria, and Hamburg have the highest number of this surname. There have also been Kirchhofs who have emigrated to the United States in the 1800s and early 1900s. individuals with the Kirchhof name can currently be found in states such as Wisconsin, New York, Illinois, and Ohio.
The Kirchhof name is not only common in Germany and the United States. It can also be found in other parts of Europe, especially in Austria, France, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia.
Overall, the Kirchhof surname is widely distributed around the world. It is estimated that there are roughly 12,000 people who share the Kirchhof last name, with many of them living in Germany and the United States.
Variations of the surname Kirchof
The surname Kirchof is German in origin and has many variants and spellings including Kirchhof, Kircheff, Kirchef, Kirchev, Kircheef, Kurchof, Kurchoff, Kurchov, and Kurchovoff.
Kirchhof is the most commonly seen variant of the original form in German-speaking countries, and people with this surname may have originally hailed from Germany or Switzerland, however, bearers of this name can be found in other countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Kircheff is another common spelling, though it is also sometimes spelled Kirchef or Kirchev. This spelling has been found primarily in Russia, sometimes accompanied by the patronymic ending "-ova" or "-off". The spelling Kircheef may also be used, though it is not as common.
Kurchof, Kurchoff, Kurchov, and Kurchovoff are also variants of the original form, though they are primarily found in Russia, and the patronymic endings "-ova" or "-off" may also accompany them.
In summary, Kirchof can appear in many different spellings and surnames, all of which are related and have their roots in German-speaking countries.
Famous people with the name Kirchof
- Mathias Kirchhof: German professional footballer and fashion designer
- Lutz Kirchhof: German soft ice cream entrepreneur
- Julian Kirchhof: German architect and urban planner
- Friedhelm Kirchhof: German actor
- Andreas Kirchhof: German actor and comedian
- Martin Kirchhof: German pianist
- Katharina Kirchhof: German opera and concert singer
- Wolfgang Kirchhof: German professor of physics
- Fritz Kirchhof: German botanist and ornithologist
- Hans Kirchhof: Former German Olympic bronze-medal winning gymnast
- Werner Kirchhof: German Army pilot and World War II flying ace
- Friedrich Kirchhof: German banker and politician
- Uwe Kirchhof: German composer and classical music producer
- Eberhard Kirchhof: German diplomat and ambassador
- Jan Kirchhof: German mathematician and software engineer
- Ute Kirchhof: German professor of educational science
- Christian Kirchhof: German lawyer and legal scholar
- Alfons Kirchhof: German composer and organist
- Erich Kirchhof: German film director and screenwriter
- Karl Kirchhof: German administrator and politician