Surname Kufler - Meaning and Origin
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Kufler: What does the surname Kufler mean?
The last name Kufler is a German-language occupational surname derived from küfler, meaning "cooper." A cooper is someone who creates and repairs barrels and casks, which were while still are a crucial form of storage for a variety of reasons. Coopers, like the Kufler family, played a vital role in medieval European and North American economies.
The Kufler family likely moved around much in the centuries before reliable records were kept, carrying their trade skill and providing their services to all sorts of communities. Even today, there remain devoted coopers, often in Appalachia and Europe, passing down generations of knowledge and practiced craftsmanship.
The Kufler family is an ancient one, with records going all the way back to the 1300s. The family has especially spread throughout the US, with records indicating that they’ve been here since the late 1800s. It’s likely they chose the US to start fresh, free of the old rigid European class systems.
To members of the Kufler clan, their name stands for more than just their craft – it stands for resilience, craftsmanship, and a willingness to serve the greater good. Over the centuries, the Kufler family has held tightly onto its heirloom of skills, and it’s these same skills that hold today as dear as ever.
Order DNA origin analysisKufler: Where does the name Kufler come from?
The last name Kufler is most commonly found in Austria and Germany, with the majority of Kufler families living in these two countries. Records of the name in Germany date back to at least the 13th century, although the name likely originated in Austria, based on its prevalence there today.
In Austria, records indicate that Kufler was a particularly common name in the region of Vorarlberg, located in the western part of the country, as well as the city of Vienna. In Germany, the name is still found in cities such as Berlin and Munich as well as the southern states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
Tracing the diaspora of the Kufler family, the name can also be found in the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania, California, Ohio, Illinois and New York. In addition, the name is also widespread in countries such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Only a handful of Kuflers remain in Austria today, and the name is becoming increasingly difficult to find in Germany. Nevertheless, its prevalence in other parts of the world, such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, indicates that the name Kufler still has a significant presence around the world.
Variations of the surname Kufler
Kufler is an occupational surname derived from the Middle High German word ‘koffler’, meaning ‘coffer maker’. It is also a regional variation of German ‘Kueffler’ and ‘Kuefler’, meaning ‘coffin maker’. As such, individuals who held this craft as their profession in medieval Germany likely gave rise to this surname.
The most common variants of this surname are Koffler, Kueffler, and Kuefler. Other spelling variations include Kuffler, Kufele, Kueffle, and Kupele. It was common for people to change the spelling of their names due to varying dialects or as a result of illiteracy.
The surname may also have alternate regional variations that exist today. Cuperle (in southern Netherlands) and Kupfler (in Austria and the Czech Republic) are both likely variants of Kufler.
Surnames associated with the same surname are often based off of similar-sounding names in surrounding areas. Cuffley, Coughley, and Coughey are some of the possible variants of the surname that have been recorded in the United Kingdom.
The known variants of the Kufler surname and other related surnames are a testament to the nomadic nature of humans throughout the ages. As names have often changed based on environmental influences, the number of variants related to this particular surname is likely much greater than what is currently known.
Famous people with the name Kufler
- Arkadi Kufler: A Russian-born French film producer, director, and screenwriter best known for his work in French-speaking countries.
- Philip Kufler: An American attorney, consultant, and leader in the fields of corporate compliance, ethics, and law.
- Emel Kufler: An Austrian mathematician and professor at the University of Vienna.
- August Kufler: A Belgian painter of Flemish descent and one of the earliest members of the group Neue Künstlervereinigung München.
- João Kufler: A Brazilian artist renowned for his works of street art and illustrations on public walls.
- Johann Kufler: An Austrian astronomer and mathematician who was the director of the Vienna Observatory from 1843–1845.
- Luther Kufler: An American farmer and businessman from North Carolina who was active in government and politics.
- Ehrhart Kufler: A German baroque painter who lived and worked in Munich.
- Rachel Kufler: An American architect and academic who has been the Dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Nebraska since 2009.
- Michael Kufler: An Austrian historian and professor at the University of Vienna who specializes in medieval history.