Surname Koehn - Meaning and Origin
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Koehn: What does the surname Koehn mean?
The last name Koehn is an occupational name of German origin, derived from the word "koenig", which means "king". The name would have first been used to describe someone whose occupation involved working for a king or a nobleman. It may also have referred to a ruler or leader.
Koehn is a fairly common surname in the United States, concentration being chiefly in the Midwest, particularly Pennsylvania and Ohio. It is also found in various other countries, including Scotland, England, Germany, and France.
The etymology of the name is uncertain, but it is thought to have derived from an Old High German word meaning kuoni, or "bold leader". This would suggest that the Koehn family was linked to a leader of some kind, and that is still supported by their surname today.
Koehn is an unusual surname, providing those who bear it with a hint of mystery. It is a name that carries a certain dignity and elegance with it – a reflection of the intriguing history behind the name. It is a name that commands respect and is sure to impress.
Order DNA origin analysisKoehn: Where does the name Koehn come from?
The last name Koehn is most commonly found in Germany, where it originated. It is also found in the United States, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and many other countries. Koehn is a patronymic (meaning it is derived from the father's given name) German surname, with the substantial majority of people sharing the name residing in Germany.
In Germany, according to the Statistical Office of Germany in 2019, the name was most frequent in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state on Germany’s northern coast, located between the North and Baltic Seas. The second-highest concentration was in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’ largest state, in the west. Other German states in which Koehn is a common surname include Lower Saxony, Hamburg, Bavaria, Saxony, Thuringia, and Berlin.
In the United States, the name is most common in Texas, California, and Nevada. Building on both of these earlier sources, according to the US Census Bureau in 2020, the states with the highest concentration of Koehns were Texas, California, New York, Ohio, and Florida.
In Canada, Statistics Canada’s most recent data in 2020 states that Koehn is most common in Ontario and Alberta.
The last name Koehn is widely dispersed, with Germany, the United States, Canada, France, and other countries all having significant populations of people with this surname.
Variations of the surname Koehn
The surname Koehn is of German origin, and dates back to a medieval ancestor. Various variants of this surname exist, including Koehnen, Koehler, Koehne, Kohnen, Köhnen and Koehlers, and some families have adopted more modern spellings, such as Köhne, Köhl, König and Köhler.
The form Koehn is most common in Germany and the Netherlands. In German-speaking countries, this type of surname is more traditionally spelled with the letter "ö" (Köhn), while in the Netherlands, families tend to favor the phonetic spelling "oe" (Koehn).
In the United States, the variants Koehn and Koehler are more common, while Koehnen is also occasionally used. Canadian families generally spell the surname as Koehn. In the UK and Ireland, the variant Koehnen is most often seen.
The variants Kohnen, Köhnen and Koehlers can also be found in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland. Surnames with slightly different spellings, such as Koehnig, Köhlig and Köhler, can also be found in Germany, the Netherlands and other European countries.
No matter the spelling of the surname, all variations of Koehn can be traced back to a common medieval ancestor or geographical region.
Famous people with the name Koehn
- Michael Koehn: Michael is a producer, director, and composer of films such as Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Avatar.
- Teri Koehn: Teri is an American diver and Olympic silver medalist.
- Merete Koehn: Merete is an actress best known for her role in the Jurassic Park film series.
- Fritz Koehn: Fritz is a German-born American sculptor, painter, and graphic designer. His works are in the collections of numerous museums and public institutions.
- Stephen Koehn: Stephen is an American artist specializing in printmaking and sculpting. His works are highly acclaimed and have been featured in many exhibitions.
- Ray Koehn: Ray is an Indian-American actor best known for his roles in Anoka, Minnesota and Chasing Fireflies.
- Philip Koehn: Philip is an American-born Swiss industrialist and entrepreneur. He founded a large agricultural research facility in Switzerland and was one of the first to develop the field of agronomy.
- Amit Koehn: Amit is an Indian-born investor and venture capitalist. He is one of the founders of Koehn Capital, a venture capital company that focuses on medical technology investments.
- Konrad Koehn: Konrad is an American-born descendant of German immigrants, best known for helping spearhead the growth of small businesses in the Midwest. He was a board member of the Kauffman Foundation and was instrumental in the founding of several start-ups.
- Jan Koehn: Jan is a Dutch painter and sculptor known for his politically charged works. His works have been featured in exhibits around the world.