Surname Kosfelder - Meaning and Origin

Kosfelder: What does the surname Kosfelder mean?

The last name Kosfelder originates from the Middle High German word "kosvelte", meaning "woodpecker". It was likely given to someone living in or near a wooded area, and may have been derived from the sound of a woodpecker tapping on tree bark.

Kosfelder is a German-language family name. It is believed to have first appeared in written records of the 11th century in the region of Lower Saxony, Germany. It was most likely first carried by a solitary individual who, by chance or choice, shared the same name. The surname eventually spread across Europe, finding its way to many different countries and cultures.

Kosfelder is often used as the surname for a line of ancestors. It is also believed to be related to a handful of other German family names, such as Kofelt, Köstler, and Koslowski. These surnames all share the same meaning and will often appear together in family trees and historical documents.

Today, The surname Kosfelder is still prevalent in Germany and the surrounding countries. It has also been adopted by many other cultures, including those in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other parts of the world. Some people with this name have become world-famous, further extending the reach of the name and the woodpecker symbolism associated with it.

Kosfelder: Where does the name Kosfelder come from?

The last name Kosfelder is currently most common in Germany, where it is among the top 1000 surnames. It is also found in other countries in Europe, most notably the Netherlands, Austria, and Switzerland, where it is in the top 3000. In the United States and Canada, the surname is much more rare, ranking in the top 20,000 in both countries. Kosfelder is also found in surprisingly high numbers in Israel (top 1000), likely due to former European and German Jewish immigrants who fled Nazi persecution and settled in the Middle East after World War II.

Kosfelder appears to have originated in central Germany, in the region between Berlin and Dresden. It is most often been spelled with an -er ending, but variations with an -el, -ele, and -le have also been documented. The name may be derived from Middle High German words meaning "pleasure of the Lord" and "wealthy passage."

Kosfelder has been borne by several notable figures over the years. Among them are the German painter, Gustav Adolf Kosfelder (1836–1913), the German physicist Gustav Karl Kosfelder (born 1856), the Dutch journalist Jan Georg Kosfelder (1895–1973), and the Luxembourgian conductor Fernand Kosfelder (1916–1995).

One of the more unusual bearers of the name is Samuel Kosfelder (born 1885), who was an early Jewish film producer in the United States and famously sued Thomas Edison in 1902 for monopolizing the film industry in America. The case was eventually settled in Edison's favor, but it symbolizes the openness of the American market to immigrant entrepreneurs in the early 20th century.

Variations of the surname Kosfelder

The surname Kosfelder is of Ashkenazi Jewish origin and is also found in various spellings, such as Kosfilder, Kosfelder, Kostfelder, Kostfilder, and Kostifer. It is a German version of the Jewish and Yiddish name Kosfedl, which is derived from the Old German name Kezvald, which is composed of two elements: ‘kez,’ which means ‘flight or destruction’ and ‘vald,’ which literally translated means ‘ruler.’

The surname is found mainly in Jewish communities originating from Germany and Poland, and it is still found in Eastern Europe, as well as in the United States. The surnames Kosfilder and Kosfeldt are variants that are also found in Russia. In addition, the surnames Kosiefield and Kostenfield are found amongst German-Jewish immigrants in the United States.

Other spellings that may be encountered include Kosfeld, Kosfelde, Kesselfeld, Kezfeld, Kezvald, and Kesselvald. Kosfilder and Kostifeld are also found in Germany, as are Russian variations such as Kostiefl and Kesselfeld. In the United States, the surnames Kosfeldt, Kosfilder, Kostifeld, and Kostief are sometimes encountered, as well as other variations such as Kesselfield, Kostenfeld, and Kostenfield.

The surname Kosfelder and its many variants are a reminder of the rich cultural history of the Jewish people and their dispersion throughout Europe and beyond.

Famous people with the name Kosfelder

• Jayson Kosfelder: Former Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy.
• Pete Kosfelder: Australian film director, screenwriter, and producer.
• Eric Kosfelder: American short story writer.
• Jordan Kosfelder: American writer and storyteller.
• David Kosfelder: Former Commander of the Alabama National Guard.
• Michael Kosfelder: Former professional hockey player and NHL scout.
• Julia Kosfelder: Actress and comedienne who starred in several productions on the New York stage.
• Martha Kosfelder: Actress best known for her roles in television comedies.
• Mary Kosfelder: Actress who appeared in movies such as At Last, The Night and J. Edgar.
• Lillian Kosfelder: Writer and illustrator of children's books.

Other surnames

Kosfeld