Surname Kohut - Meaning and Origin
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Kohut: What does the surname Kohut mean?
The surname Kohut is an old Slavic name meaning “high” or “tall”. It was first recorded in Roman documents in the 12th century as being used by those living in Slovakia. The name is thought to have originated due to an ancestor who was physically tall or had a higher rank in the hierarchy of their village. Over the years, it spread to other countries in the region like the Czech Republic, Croatia, and Poland.
The surname is relatively rare even in its native countries, but it has been noted in many other areas as well. There are a few people who have used the name as far away as Australia, the United States, and even Canada.
The variant of the name seen in other countries is often spelled Kohut, while Czechs use its original spelling, Kout. Those familiar with Czech will recognize the root of the name as “kut”, which means “head”. The most likely explanation for the name is that it denotes an ancestor who was seen as a head of their village or extended family.
For those who find their surname to be Kohut, they can be proud of the legacy of their ancestors and the long history of the name that stretches across many countries and generations.
Order DNA origin analysisKohut: Where does the name Kohut come from?
The last name Kohut is most commonly found in Central and Eastern European countries. Specifically, it is most prevalent in Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Ukraine. Depending on the location, it is spelled slightly differently (Kohut/Kohout/Kohuth).
In Slovakia, it is the 780th most common last name and it is most often found in the Banska Bystrica County. In Poland, it is the 2,377th most popular surname, with the greatest concentration located in the Podkarpackie, Slaskie, and Lodzkie provinces. In the Czech Republic, it is the 2,919th most popular surname and is found most often in Prague/central Bohemia. In Ukraine, it is the 8,058th most popular surname and is mostly localized in Transcarpathian, Kharkiv, and Lviv regions.
According to a study by Forebears in 2020, Kohut is the 11,075th most common surname in the world and is shared by over 12,000 people in 9 different countries. Within the USA, it is one of the 7,000 most popular surnames in the country, mostly concentrated in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and New York.
Variations of the surname Kohut
The surname Kohut is derived from the proto-Slavic word ‘kohut’ which means ‘stalwart’. It is a popular surname in Central and Eastern Europe, with variations in spelling and pronunciation depending on the country and region.
In Slovak, the surname is also spelled ‘Kohút’ and ‘Kohutová’ or ‘Kohútová’ is the female version. Other variants include Kôhut (Carpathian Ruthenian) and Kohoutka or Kohout (Czech).
In Poland, the surname can be spelled ‘Kohut’, ‘Kohuta’, ‘Kohutek’ (diminutive), ‘Kohutowicz’, ‘Kohuta’, and ‘Kohutowicz’. Similarly, in Ukraine and Belarus, you can find variants of the surname, such as ‘Kohut’, ‘Kohuta’, ‘Kohutka’, ‘Kohutoc’, ‘Kohutovych’, and ‘Kohutovych’. Also prominent in these countries is the shorter form ‘Kohuš’ or ‘Kohuš’.
In Russia, the surname ‘Kohut’ is used in the same form, as well as variants such as ‘Kohutov’ (the Russian genitive form) and ‘Kohutova’ (the patronymic form). Other variants in the region include ‘Kohutin’ (diminutive form) and ‘Kohutenko’.
In Hungary, the surnames ‘Kohut’, ‘Kohutka’, and ‘Kohutov’ are prominent, and in Serbia the spelling ‘Kohutić’ is also possible.
Thus, ‘Kohut’ is a very popular surname with numerous variants in pronunciation and spelling that depend on geographical location.
Famous people with the name Kohut
- Anton Kohut (1874-1943): Austrian-American historical librarian known for his expertise on Slavic history and culture.
- Jon Kohut (1908-1978): Hungarian-American philosophy professor who worked on metaphysical philosophy and the problems of identity.
- Naomi Kohut (1903-1987): German-American activist who wrote extensively about the Holocaust.
- Paul R. Kohut (1929-): American theologian and professor of Divinity and Religion at Duke University.
- Pavel Kohut (1851-1915): Czech zoological researcher who wrote about Boa constrictors and other reptiles.
- Robert Kohut (1923-2008): Austrian-American mathematician specializing in algebra and structural engineering.
- Stuart Kohut (1949-): American choreographer and ballet master who has worked with the Pennsylvania Ballet, San Jose Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet.
- Richard Kohut (1943-): American historian known for his works on South Asian societies.
- Vaclav Kohut (1885-1959): Czech-American philosopher, critic, and poet.
- Vaclav Klement Kohut (1966-): Czech-Iranian artist whose works focus on the beauty of the natural world.