Surname Kistenmacher - Meaning and Origin
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Kistenmacher: What does the surname Kistenmacher mean?
The last name Kistenmacher is derived from two elements: the German word “Kiste”, meaning “box” or “chest”, and the German word “macher”, meaning “maker”. As such, the name Kistenmacher would traditionally refer to someone who was a maker or seller of wooden boxes or chests.
This Germanic last name likely originates from the Middle Ages, when skilled craftsmen were in high demand. Those in the trade of crafting goods out of wood, such as furniture, jewellery boxes and tool chests, needed to be highly skilled and could make a good living. It was one of the early trades where those who mastered it could prosper by perfecting their skills.
The occupational name Kistenmacher was likely adopted by someone who was in the business of making or selling wooden chests. The name and the craft that it originated from would eventually be passed down through families for generations, with each new Kistenmacher perfecting the craft in his own unique way, as his contribution to the family name.
By the 19th Century, the Kistenmacher’s profession had shifted away from making chests and to the less-demanding trade of cabinetmaking. During the industrial revolution, many of the Kistenmachers took up machine tool trades, creating and repairing useful machines and tools.
Today, although the Kistenmacher name is still found throughout Germany, there are many branches of this long-standing German family who have taken up a variety of other professions.
Order DNA origin analysisKistenmacher: Where does the name Kistenmacher come from?
The last name Kistenmacher is most common in Germany today. The exact origins of the name are unknown, but it is believed to have originated in the Germanic region of Europe. It is one of the many German last names that was derived from the Germanic word "Kistenmacher", which means basket maker or basket seller.
The name has since spread around the world, with many Kistenmachers living in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and other parts of Europe. Many Kistenmachers have also emigrated to other countries such as Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, and even Colombia.
The Kistenmacher name is still relatively common in Germany, as well as in the immigrant communities that were established in places like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. In Germany, the name is most populated in the cities of Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich. In the USA, it has been the most popular in New York, Pennsylvania, and California.
In some cases, the name Kistenmacher has also been Anglicized to become Kistermaker, which is an Americanized version of the original spelling. It should be noted that the Americanized version also has German heritage and origin.
Variations of the surname Kistenmacher
The surname Kistenmacher is a German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) name of occupational origin, from the Middle High German kiste meaning “box”, “chest” and macher meaning “maker”. It was traditionally a name for someone who made wooden boxes and chests, so it could also be an alias to denote someone’s profession. This surname has variants and alternate spellings in different languages and countries, and also has many different surnames derived from the same word.
In German, it is sometimes spelled Kistenmaker, Kistemaker, Kistmacher, Kistenmacher and Kistenmaeker. It is known as Kistenmacher in Dutch, Kistmacher in Afrikaans and Kistemacher in Yiddish.
In Poland, Kistenmacher is derived from the surname Kisteń, while other Polish derivatives of the name are Kistoń, Kiszkoń, Kissman and Kisień. In Hungary, Kistenmacher can be found as Keszthely, Keszegi or Kaszthely, while in Ukraine it can be spelled as Kesten, Kisten, Kistetskyy, Kistickiy or Kestenovych. In Czech, the surnames Kister, Kistak and Kistka are thought to be derived from this name.
In the United States, Kistenmacher has been found as Kistmaker, Kisteman and Kistner. Kistenaar, Kistemaker, Kistenmaker and Kistenmacher are all Dutch derivatives, while Kiszkoń, Kiszkon, Kiszon and Kizzon can all be found in North America. The name Kestenman can also be found in Canada and the United States. In the United Kingdom, the surnames Kiszkiel, Kiszkow, Koszka, Koszke, Kistak, Kistkow, Kistek and Kistka are all believed to be derived from the same word.
Famous people with the name Kistenmacher
- Kardea Brown: celebrity chef and Food Network star
- Dan Kistenmacher: former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Magdalena Kistenmacher: former German figure skater
- Roel Kistenmacher: Dutch entrepreneur and the co-founder of RTL Ventures
- Inge Kistenmacher: Austrian children's author and illustrator
- Carina Kistenmacher: German politician
- Alfred Kistenmacher: German pharma industry executive
- Heinz Kistenmacher: German zoologist
- Erwin Kistenmacher: German sculptor 10.William Kistenmacher: Austrian architect