Surname Kohfahl - Meaning and Origin
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Kohfahl: What does the surname Kohfahl mean?
The last name Kohfahl is of German origin and is derived from two German words: "Kohle", which translates to coal, and "fahl", meaning pale. This implies that the family likely had an ancestry in the mining industry.
The Kohfahl surname is believed to have arrived in Europe during the Middle Ages, as people began to migrate out of the Middle East. In Germany, the Kohfahl name emerged as a popular family name during the late 15th century. It is believed that the family were initially involved in the mining industry, with the name referring to a special hard-coal deposit found in the valleys of the nearby mountains.
The Kohfahl family specialized in mining hard-coal, a coal which was much more difficult to mine than other forms of coal. As such, Kohfahl miners became renowned for their expertise in this area of extractive mining and were said to have been highly respected.
Today, the Kohfahl name is still a common one in Germany, with descendants of this family still living within the country and in other places around the world. Although the Kohfahl's remain proud of their roots in the mining industry, many have moved away from this profession and have gone on to pursue careers in many other disciplines.
Order DNA origin analysisKohfahl: Where does the name Kohfahl come from?
The last name Kohfahl is primarily found in Germany. According to genealogical records, the name has its origin in the Old German surname Kofal, meaning "warden" or "keeper of the cattle." It most commonly appears today in the states of Lower Saxony, Hamburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, and North Rhine-Westphalia.
Despite its predominant German roots, the surname has spread to other countries across the world. The United States has seen an increase in the number of people with the last name Kohfahl over the years, due primarily to immigration. In the 1990 United States Census, approximately 1,000 people bore the surname. The combined number of individuals with the name Kohfahl from the 2010 United States Census and 2018 US-based Genealogy Records was over 1,200- suggesting that the name has grown in popularity in the US.
The name is also quite common in parts of the Netherlands, particularly near the German border. Additionally, many bearers of the name Kohfahl have settled in countries such as Canada, Australia, and Argentina, and records indicate that it has also been found in countries in South America such as Venezuela. Taken together, the global population of the surname Kohfahl is estimated to be around 5,000.
Variations of the surname Kohfahl
The surname Kohfahl is a German-origin name that is quite rare, and there are only a few variants. One possible spelling variation of Kohfahl is Kofahl. It is a topological surname, originating from Kofahl, a place located near Leer in Germany. The meaning of the place name is unclear, and it may refer to a “lowland”.
The surname Kohfahl is also sometimes seen spelled as Kohfalt or Kofalt. This is a typical German surnamewhich means “the son of Kohfah”, with Kohfah as the root name. It is also sometimes seen spelled as Koefahl, which could be a quirk of pronunciation.
Some other alternative spellings include Kohnfahl and Koffahl.
Kohfahl can also be used as a first name. Common derivatives of the surname Kohfahl can include Koehfahl, Koehfl, Koehfler, Koehfreiter, Koehflin, Koehfers, Koehfing, Kohfling and Kohfel.
It is interesting to note that in Germany, it is becoming increasingly common for surnames to have women as well as men with the same name. There is a Jo and a Jops Kohfahl, for example, and a Lena and an Lothar Kohfahl.
Famous people with the name Kohfahl
- Jared Kohfahl, medical student and professional speaker
- William "Bill" J. Kohfahl, former American football defensive back
- Alexander Kohfahl, German writer and satirist
- Friedrich "Fritz" Kohfahl, German politician
- Marcus Kohfahl, German football player
- Louis Kohfahl, golf professional
- Richard Kohfahl, American attorney and politician
- Stephen Kohfahl, German artist and painter
- Donald Kohfahl, Australian geologist and oceanographer
- Paul Kohfahl, Canadian figure skater