Surname Kohlschmitt - Meaning and Origin
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Kohlschmitt: What does the surname Kohlschmitt mean?
Kohlschmitt is a German surname derived from the personal name 'Kohl,' which was popular among medieval German nobility. The surname may be derived either from the Middle High German word 'kol,' meaning 'charcoal,' or from the Old High German 'kol,' meaning 'bald head.' It may also be linked to the surname Kölle, which contains the same root letters as Kohlschmitt.
The Kohlschmitt surname was most likely initially used to identify someone who was employed as a charcoal burner, or someone who was known for having a bald head. It is also possible that the name was given to someone of noble heritage who was born with a bald head.
The Kohlschmitt surname is most common in Germany, where it originated. It is especially prevalent in the southern part of the country. The first recognized bearer of this name appears to have been Sibotho Kohlschmitt, recorded in Grauwiller, Bas-Rhin in 1534.
Today, many modern spelling variants of the name exist, such as Kölschmidt, Koslowski, Köhlis, Kolesch, Külschmidt and others. The name is fairly widespread, andaccording to the 2010 census, there were over 5,000 individuals bearing the name Kohlschmitt in Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisKohlschmitt: Where does the name Kohlschmitt come from?
The last name Kohlschmitt is most commonly found in Germany today. This surname likely originated from Medieval Germany in the 16th century when the use of surnames first became popular, however, very little is known about this particular surname.
Today, the greater majority of Kohlschmitts reside in Germany with a few cases also in Austria and Switzerland. According to records from the European Union, it is an uncommon surname. As of 2019, there were approximately 6,840 registered people in the EU with the name Kohlschmitt, with the majority of those living in the German state of Bavaria.
There is also a presence of the Kohlschmitt surname in other parts of the world, including the United States and Canada. The first known record of this surname in the United States dates back to the year 1880 when a family of Kohlschmitts emigrated from Germany to Wisconsin. Since then, the number of Kohlschmitt families living in the US has grown significantly, and there are now nearly 4,000 registered individuals bearing this surname residing in the US.
The Kohlschmitt surname often has variations in spelling, such as: Kolschmidt, Kohlmeister, and Kohlschmied. Many of these variations are quite common in North America, and this is an indication that certain families have changed the spelling over time to better suit the changes in language and culture.
Variations of the surname Kohlschmitt
Kohlschmitt is a German surname derived from the personal name Kölsch consisting of the elements Kol (short from Nikolaus) and schmid (smith). The name refers to a metalworker who was either employed by the local feudal lord or was a free blacksmith living and working in their own shop.
Variants of the surname include Koehlschmitt, Kolischmidth, Kollschmidt, Kowalschmidt, Kowalschmitt, and Kollschmitt. In the United States, the surname has evolved to Keesler, Kessler, and Keisler.
Spellings of Kohlschmidt range from Kohlschmit to Kohlshmidt and all can be found throughout Germany and other countries of European descent.
In some cases the surname may have been altered due to immigration to other countries. Immigration to the United States has resulted in the surnames being Americanized to Kohlsmith. This can be seen in states like Pennsylvania, where families have adopted the spelling of Kohlsmith.
Kohlschmitt can also be found in countries like Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands, where it is typically spelled Kolsschmit.
This surname may also have absorbed other surnames from related European countries, such as in Poland where it has been known as Kolodziejski, or in Hungary as Koloszmi.
Overall, Kohlschmitt is a versatile surname with a wide variety of spellings and derivations spread throughout the world.
Famous people with the name Kohlschmitt
- Michael Kohlschmidt: German television presenter and actor.
- Michaela Kohlschmidt: German high jump athlete.
- Herbert Kohlschmied: Austrian politician.
- Petra Kohlschmidt: German curler.
- Philipp Kohlschmidt: German writer, journalist and screenwriter.
- Helmut Kohlschmidt: Former East German swimmer, competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
- Elisabeth Kohlschmid: German mezzo-soprano vocalist.
- Johannes Kohlschmidt: German foreign correspondent, journalist and lecturer.
- Jürgen Kohlschmidt: Biochemist and researcher in the field of plant molecular biology.
- Dietmar Kohlschmidt: German football player.