Surname Kotner - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Kotner: What does the surname Kotner mean?
The last name Kotner is an Anglo-Saxon surname derived from a place name. It originates from an Old English word meaning "cotner", which referred to someone who lived in a cot or small house. The surname was likely adopted by someone who moved to a new area and took the name of the cotner’s house as their surname.
The spelling of the name evolved over time, with early variations being Cotnar, Cotner, Kottner and Kautner. The name is found mainly in England, Germany, and the USA. It is most popular in the US, particularly in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Today, there are numerous variations of the Kotner surname, such as Gotner, Kotner, Kottner, Kautner and Kintner. It is a relatively uncommon name, with the highest concentration of bearers located in Germany. The meaning of Kotner is steeped in history and tied to the cotner’s house of origin. It is perfect for anyone looking to explore their ancestors’ roots in England, Germany, or the USA.
Order DNA origin analysisKotner: Where does the name Kotner come from?
The last name Kotner is a surname of German origin. Today, the name is most commonly found in countries with large German populations, such as Germany, Austria, and the United States. In Germany, the name is particularly common in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, where it is the 106th most common surname according to the German telephone directory. In the United States, Kotner is a particularly common surname in Ohio and Pennsylvania, where the name is the 519th and 686th most common surname respectively. Additionally, the Kotner surname is particularly common in parts of Canada, such as Ontario and Manitoba, where it is among the 97th and 589th most common last names respectively.
Generally, people who share the surname Kotner today are likely to be descended from German immigrants who came to North America during the 19th and early 20th centuries. People with this name typically belonged to families who were of middle-class status, and were likely to work as merchants, farmers, or tradesmen in their new homelands. Today, it is likely that people bearing this surname are proud of their German roots, and share the same values and cultural customs of their ancestors.
Variations of the surname Kotner
The surname Kotner has a few different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, depending on the context, time period, or location. Some of these surnames are spelled Kothner, Kottner, Köthner, Kötner, Kautner, and Kauetner.
The surname is derived from the Middle High German word “kote,” meaning “coachman” or “driver.” In German, the suffix “-er” was often added to denote a person with the specified occupation. People with the name likely worked as coachmen or drivers of some kind and can be traced to Central European locations such as Germany, Austria, and Poland.
Kotner is a Jewish surname, typically spelled with an “o” and originating from within the Jewish Ashkenazic communities in Central and Eastern Europe.The variants with an “ö” are more typically found with German or Austrian origins.
In America, many Jewish families chose to Anglicize their names, and Kotner may have become Kautner, Kauetner, or some other combination. The most common variants of Kotner are Kothner, Kottner, and Köthner. Variations across location and time may also include Kothener and Kautner.
No matter the spelling, though, Kotner is still a great Jewish surname with varying variants and many potential spellings.
Famous people with the name Kotner
- Ethan Kotner: American actor best known for his portrayal as Benjamin Burge in the Amazon Prime show Upload.
- Abbie Kotner : American actress best known for her role as Meredith Clemens in the TV show Life Sentence.
- Ginna Kotner: American composer and songwriter best known for her work on popular music films such as Pitch Perfect and Lesbian Vampire.
- Mark Kotner: Former Major League Baseball player who played for the Chicago White Sox from 1995 to 2002.
- David Kotner : Author and editor at Los Angeles Magazine, he is known for his expertise in food, theatre, and film.
- Martin Kotner: American musician and composer who has worked on scores for major motion pictures such as Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
- Steven Kotner: American lawyer who is the partner of Prince Lobel Tye LLP, a prestigious law firm based in Boston Massachusetts.
- Alex Kotner: Broadway performer and musical director in shows like 42nd Street and Ragtime.
- Henrik Kotner: Award-winning composer and music producer, most known for his work on the animated series Sym-Bionic Titan.
- Joe Kotner: American record producer and multi-instrumentalist known for his work with singer/songwriter Alicia Keys.