Surname Kölln - Meaning and Origin

Kölln: What does the surname Kölln mean?

Kölln is a German surname derived from the German word “kölln”, meaning ‘warming oven’. The name has been assimilated in various spellings such as Koelln, Kieln, and Kolln and can be found throughout the German-speaking world.

The name originally described an occupation, with the original bearer being someone who worked maintaining warming ovens from the very earliest of time periods. Warming ovens were used to keep food warm and in some cases, were used to store items.

Traditionally, the name was found most frequently in the regions of Schleswig-Holstein, Silesia, Franconia, and Bavaria-Hesse.

During the 1800s, many people bearing the Kölln surname emigrated away from Germany, mainly to the United States, Australia, and Canada, where the name is still present today. It is important to note that the pronunciation and spelling of the name also changed in many cases over time.

The name Kölln has had a long history, from its roots in the profession of working with warming ovens in Medieval Germany up to the present day, in which it is still commonly found amongst the German-speaking diaspora in the United States, Canada, Australia, and elsewhere.

Kölln: Where does the name Kölln come from?

The last name Kölln is most commonly found in Germany, where it is derived from the Kölln locality in Hesse, Germany. This surname is also most common in areas with a German cultural heritage, such as the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, and the Danish island of Bornholm. Kölln is also a popular name in parts of Scandinavia, especially in Sweden, as well as in Madagascar and the United States. It has likely been adopted by immigrants from German-speaking nations.

Interestingly, Kölln is an exceptionally ancient German surname; it is first encountered in the 8th century A.D., and is thus among the first known German surnames. Today, it is still quite common, indicating a strong connection to the original Kölln locality in Hesse. There have been a number of notable individuals who have shared this surname, such as Roman Kölln, a German playwright, and Erich Kölln, a World War II-era German soldier and later a U.S. Army lieutenant.

Kölln remains a popular German surname today, with an estimated 13,100 people bearing the name in Germany alone. As such, it is likely to remain a part of German culture for generations to come.

Variations of the surname Kölln

Kölln is an old Germanic surname derived from the personal name “Köl”, which means “the people” or “the family”. This surname is thought to have originated from “Kölheim”, which is an old Germanic name meaning “home of the relatives”.

The following are some variants, spellings, and derivative surnames of Kölln:

1. Köhl: This is a German variation of the Kölln surname that’s found mainly in the western part of the country.

2. Köln: This is a common spelling of Kölln found mainly in the eastern part of Germany.

3. Köhlers: This is a derived surname from the Kölln name and is found mainly in the south-central and southern parts of Germany.

4. Köhne: This is another derived surname from Kölln and is found mainly in the eastern and central parts of Germany.

5. Kehln: This is an alternate German spelling of Kölln found mainly in the northern part of the country.

6. Köhlen: This is a German-Danish surname derived from Kölln and is found mainly in Schleswig-Holstein and Jutland.

7. Kohlens: This is another derived surname from Kölln and is found mainly in the central parts of Germany.

8. Kölbls: This is a variant of Kölln found mainly in Austria.

9. Köbler: This is a derived surname from Kölln also found mainly in the southern parts of Germany.

The people bearing the Kölln family name are usually descendants of one common ancestor who lived in Germany many centuries ago. Those bearing the name are mainly found in Germany, Austria, and the Nordic countries, especially in Denmark and Norway.

Famous people with the name Kölln

• Linda Kölln: German television presenter and journalist.
• Reinhard Kölln: German chemist and professor at the Technische Universität Berlin.
• Jan Kölln: German former volleyball player, who played for SC Dynamo Berlin and later for TV Langen.
• Eugen Kölln: German painter, born in 1853.
• Rudolf Kölln: German sculptor from the 19th century.
• Christian Kölln: German Olympic fencer, who competed at the 1932 and 1936 Summer Olympics.
• Johannes Kölln: German entomologist and university professor.
• Günther Kölln: German actor and film director.
• Julius Kölln: German composer from the early 19th century.
• Matthias Kölln: German playwright and broadcaster.

Other surnames

Köllner