Surname Kohns - Meaning and Origin
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Kohns: What does the surname Kohns mean?
The last name Kohns is of German Jewish origin. It is derived from the Hebrew term kohen, which means priest or rabbi. Historically, the name is associated with a family of hereditary religious leaders, similar to a caste. Those entitled to bear the name are descendants of an ancient lineage of scholars, teachers, judges, and ritual functionaries in Jewish communities.
The name Kohns is commonly spelled with one n, but can also be found spelled as Kohn or Kohen as sources differ. While sourcings may vary, it is believed it is derived from the Middle High German word "Kone" which means “farmer” or “reed worker”. The old Germanic root of the name is thought to be derived from the prefix "Korn" which means “grain”.
The name Kohns and its variants have spread throughout the world alongside the spread of Jewish culture, although one of the highest concentrations of Kohns inhabitants are located in Germany and the United States.
In Jewish religious circles, people of the Kohns surname are considered part of the Levites, a tribe of the Jewish people that is descended from men who worked in the Israelite temple. Those of the Levi tribe have traditionally been viewed as having special access to the service of G-d in a certain capacity.
Apart from religious associations, the name Kohns symbolizes an individual or family from a long-standing and respected tradition. As such, it stands as a reminder of the cultural legacy of the traditional Jewish people and their unwavering devotion to family, faith and community.
Order DNA origin analysisKohns: Where does the name Kohns come from?
The last name Kohns is most commonly found in the United States and Germany, with some occurrences in other countries throughout Europe, the Americas, and elsewhere.
In the United States, the highest concentrations of Kohns are found in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, Florida, Maryland, Ohio, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. In Pennsylvania, the Kohns family is particularly prominent and has made its mark in the Lancaster region as early as the 1700s. The German population of Kohns has remained relatively stable since the 1800s, although there has been a slight decline in the number of Kohns households in the past few decades.
In addition to the United States and Germany, there are also small populations of Kohns living in countries such as the Czech Republic, Poland, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, and Canada. It is also possible to find Kohns in countries where Ashkenazi Jews settled during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Overall, the last name Kohns is a common one today, with many people proudly bearing the name in multiple countries around the world. The Kohns family has a history of strong values, friendships, and loyalty, and the name is only likely to grow in popularity in the years to come.
Variations of the surname Kohns
The surname Kohns is of German origin and derived from the Jewish Ashkenazi name "Kohn". It is an occupational name derived from ‘Konig’, the German word for king. Variants and alternate spellings of the surname Kohns include Koehns, Konns, Kohnes, Konnes, Kohnse, and Kohnze.
Variants of the surname Kohns were formed by dialectal differences in the pronunciation and use of different languages, including German and Ashkenazi Jewish, as well as English language influences. Common misspellings of the surname Kohns can also include Kohne, Cohn, Kohn, Kohnner, Kohner, Kothen, Kouthen, Koen, Coon, Koning, Kooning, and Coning.
Surnames related to Kohns include Kahns, Kehns, Kohnen, Kohnert, Kohnke, Kohner, Kohnermann, Kohnhorst, Kohnenberger, Kohnle, Kohnlein, Kohnes, Kohnertz, Kohnen, Kohnesmann, Kohnleiter, Kohnerl, Kohnertz, and Kohnst.
Other variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Kohns include Cohn, Cowan, Conn, Coon, Conner, Conyers, Connely, Conaway, Connery, Conroo, Conwell, Conkor, Conneen, Conwells, Cohnes, Coniers, and Connally.
Famous people with the name Kohns
- David Kohns: American filmmaker and producer
- Josef Kohns: Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs
- Philipp Kohns: German journalist
- Ronald Kohns: American visual artist
- Sidney Kohns: American attorney and former mayor
- Max Kohns: German artist
- Kristi Kohns: American film actress
- Joseph Kohns: American entrepreneur and researcher
- Alfred Kohns: German musicologist
- Samuel Kohns: American business executive
- Deepak Kohns: Indian actor
- Anton Kohns: German actor
- Simon Kohns: German musician and composer
- Robert Kohns: Swiss physicist
- Karen Kohns: American politician
- Mark Kohns: Canadian actor
- Vienna Kohns: American visual artist
- Dorothy Kohns: American singer-songwriter
- Gilbert Kohns: American neurologist
- Sarah Kohns: American Olympic water polo player