Surname Kohnle - Meaning and Origin

Kohnle: What does the surname Kohnle mean?

The last name Kohnle is of German origin and is derived from the pre-medieval given name "Kuhnlein". The word “Kuhnlein” is composed of two words— “Kuhn” which means “bold” or “brave” and “lein” which means “little” or “small”. Ultimately, the name Kohnle is a reference to someone who is seen as brave and capable— a person of strength.

In the early 1800s, the Kohnle family was spread throughout Central and Southern Germany. They typically lived in rural farming communities, and often worked as carpenters and farmers. The Kohnle family was believed to have painted one of the oldest images of the Virgin Mary in the region. Since then, the name Kohnle has been associated with symbolizing religious faith.

Today, the Kohnle family is still largely concentrated in Germany and continues to hold its original meaning. The Kohnles are seen as brave, courageous, and hard-working; characteristics that continue to be the pride of this family. The Kohnle family has grown worldwide, and continues to represent strength and integrity; an honored and lasting legacy.

Kohnle: Where does the name Kohnle come from?

The last name Kohnle has its origins in Germany as a variant of the surname Köhnle. It is primarily found in Germany, though its presence can also be noted in the United States, Poland and England.

In Germany, the Kohnle surname remains quite common today. This particular variant is most prevalent in southwestern German states, such as Baden-Wurttemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse. It is also present in Saxony, Saarland, Thuringia, and Bavaria, although the numbers are much smaller.

In the US, the Kohnle name is primarily concentrated in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, New York, Ohio and West Virginia. These states were initially colonized by German settlers in the 1700s, and the name has endured over the centuries.

In England, the name Kohnle is found in small numbers. This is mostly due to post-WWII immigration, as well as people who left Germany in the 1920s and 30s in search of a better life and employment opportunities.

In Poland, the Kohnle name is quite rare. This would be attributed to the deportations of German nationals during the aftermath of WW2.

Overall, the Kohnle name is most prevalent in Germany today, though its presence can still be found in other parts of Europe and the US.

Variations of the surname Kohnle

The surname Kohnle is a German-origin name, and is typically spelled as "Kohnle". Variations on the spelling of this surname include most commonly "Kohne", "Koenle", and "Koenle". The same origin of this name can also be seen in spellings such as "Köhnle", "Köhne", "Köenle" and "Köenle".

Kohnle is a patronymic surname of the Middle High German name "Kunz", meaning "son of Kunz", and is most commonly of Ashkenazi Jewish (Eastern European) and Bavarian (Southern German) origin. Variants on this name are also found in Germany, where the spelling is often "Kohle" or "Kohne".

In the United States, the surname "Kohnle" is the Anglicized form of "Koenle", which is German and of the Pagan-Germanic origin. Variants of this name include "Koenle", "Konle", "Kohlle", "Kohlne" and "Kohlney".

The United States Census of 1880 shows that "Kohnle" was the name chosen for the Americanized version of "Koenle". In other parts of the world, such as Canada and Australia, the spelling "Kohnle" is still commonly used.

Surnames of the same origin include "Köhnle", "Köhnlein", "Köhnlein", "Könenle", "Könenlein", "Köenle", "Köhne", "Kohnlein", "Koehnlein", "Kouncing", "Karnell", and "Karnell".

The name "Kohnle" has been popularized in Europe by notable figures such as the late Pieter André Kohnle, a Dutch-born mathematician and composer, as well as by the current German footballer and son of Dutch parents, Julian Kohnle.

Famous people with the name Kohnle

• Christian Kohnle: German slalom canoeist who was part of the National Slalom Canoe Team. He won a bronze medal in the C1 class at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
• Peter Kohnle: Former European master in aeronautical engineering, he worked as an engineer for many years for the renowned European aerospace company Airbus.
• Anne Kohnle: American film, television, and stage actress, best known for her role as the eccentric Dr. Pearl in the television series ER and the dysfunctional Aunt Susan in the drama My Name is Earl.
• Jürgen Kohnle: a German historian and university professor. He is considered an expert in late medieval and early modern German history and has written several books on the topic.
• Hans Kohnle: aka Johnny Scott, professional boxer who was European lightweight champion from 1935 to 1936.
• Dieter Kohnle: German former footballer who played for clubs including Arminia Bielefeld and Rot-Weiß Oberhausen, and was a member of the Germany national football team.
• Arthur Kohnle: AKA "Keez," professional extreme sports athlete. He specializes in rollerblading and was the subject of the 2009 documentary film, "Keez: The Documentary."
• Sarah Kohnle: German actor, director, and writer best known for her role in the 2017 drama film, Red Dog.
• Johannes Kohnle: German florist and horticulturalist who wrote the book "Flower Therapy for Your Home and Garden" which is about the psychological and physical healing power of flowers.
• Martin Kohnle: German nutritionist and author, he wrote several books about a healthy lifestyle and nutrition, such as "The Sustainable Diet" and "The Plant-Based Diet: Your Guide to Optimal Health."

Other surnames

Köhnlein