Surname Kohlmaier - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Kohlmaier: What does the surname Kohlmaier mean?
Kohlmaier is a German surname, derived from the Middle High German words kole and meie. Literally translated, Kohlmaier is “coal merchant” or “coal-maker”. This likely refers to people who worked in coal mines or supplied coal to their local villages and towns.
The Kohlmaier surname can be found in both German and Jewish records, certain populations of which have a long history of supporting and trading coal-based products. The surname is found to be particularly concentrated throughout Germany and Austria.
The Kohlmaier name has endured for centuries and is a part of many family’s identity, with the oldest known record of the surname belonging to one Suzanna Kollhamer from the 16th century in the city of Schaffhausen, Switzerland.
The Kohlmaier name is also occasionally associated with the occupation of miller and the production of ground flour. The beginning of this line of work likely spread with the gaining of wealth from coal trading, allowing Kohlmaier to build businesses in order to provide food to their communities.
As a result of the surname’s strong base in Germany, it stands to reason that there may be concentration of Kohlmaier’s living in other European countries, including Sweden, Poland, Belgium, and Netherlands. However, there are also instances of Kohlmaier’s living within the U.S., likely descended from German immigrants during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisKohlmaier: Where does the name Kohlmaier come from?
The last name Kohlmaier is now most commonly found in Germany. The first recorded instances of the name date back to at least the 16th century, and it is believed to have originated in Germany's Black Forest region.
According to surname data, the majority of people with the surname Kohlmaier live in Germany today, though people with the name can be found in other countries like the US, Canada, UK, and several other European nations.
Kohlmaier can have multiple spellings, such as Koelmaier, Kölmayer, Koehlmaier, Koehlemaier, Köhlmeyer, and several others. This variety of spellings means that the name is sometimes found in records during its history that spell it differently than the way it appears today.
Currently, the highest concentration of people with the name Kohlmaier live in the German states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Additionally, Kohlmaier families can be traced to villages, such as Großbibra, Langelsheim, and Rothenkirchen, as well as other areas throughout Germany.
Overall,the last name Kohlmaier is still most commonly found in Germany today, while people with the name can also be found in other countries, such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Variations of the surname Kohlmaier
The surname Kohlmaier is of German origin. Variants of this surname include Kohlmeier, Kohlmeyer, Kohlmaier, Kohleier, Koleier, Kohlmayer, Kolemeyer, Köhlmeier, Köhlmayer, and Köllmaier.
Kohlmaier is derived from the habitational name from places named ‘Köhl’ or ‘Kohl’, such as Köhl in Holstein and Baden-Württemberg. The term 'Köhl' refers to an area of moist or marshy land.
‘Kohlmaier’ is also spelled as ‘Kohlmeyer’, and the ‘ei’ is often replaced with ‘ey’ variant. Other surnames related to Kohlmaier include ‘Köhlmayer’, ‘Köhlmeier’, and ‘Köllmaier’, all being derived from the German term köhl.
Though cases exist of the ‘Kohlmaier’ surname being derived from the name of the ‘Kohl’ or ‘Köhl’ family, Kohlmaier is more often associated with ‘Köhl’ or ‘Kohl’, meaning ‘swamp’ or ‘bog’ rather than being an alternative surname.
The ‘Köhl’ or ‘Kohl’ family names are believed to have originated from the Middle Ages, which is evidenced by the presence of a ‘Köhl’ family coat of arms in the German armorials of the 16th and 17th centuries. As for the descendents of the ‘Kohlmaier’ surname, there are today family branches with surnames such as ‘Köhl’, ‘Kohl’, ‘Köhlmeier’, ‘Köhlmayer’, ‘Köllmaier’, and ‘Kolemeyer’, which serve as testimony to its origin.
Famous people with the name Kohlmaier
1.Harald Kohlmaier: Austrian physician and professor at the Medical University of Graz 2.Matthias Kohlmaier: Austrian pianist and composer 3.Gerd Kohlmaier: German equestrian who represented his country in the 1984 Summer Olympics 4.Christian Kohlmaier: Austrian bassist for the progressive metal band Leprous 5.Ernst Kohlmaier: Austrian politician, active in the Austrian People's Party 6.Monica Kohlmaier: Austrian historian and professor at the University of Vienna 7.Gillo Kohlmaier: Austrian climber who in 2009 became the second Austrian to climb Mount Everest 8.Heidi Kohlmaier: Austrian cardiologist and professor at the Medical University of Graz 9.Ursula Kohlmaier: Austrian veterinarian and professor at Vetmeduni Vienna 10.Rudolf Kohlmaier: Austrian sculptor and painter, known for his bronze figurative sculptures 11.Gunter Kohlmaier: Austrian entrepreneur and digital marketing expert 12.Johannes Kohlmaier: Austrian photographer, sculptor and painter 13.Rudolf Kohlmaier Jr.: Austrian painter, calligrapher and sculptor 14.Benedikt Kohlmaier: Austrian actor and director 15.Thomas Kohlmaier: Austrian businessman and managing director of Monomedia