Surname Steinkuhle - Meaning and Origin
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Steinkuhle: What does the surname Steinkuhle mean?
The last name Steinkuhle is a German surname, derived from the word "Stein," which means "stone," and "Kuhle," which means "ditch." The name likely originated as a reference to someone who lived near a ditch filled with stones, or an excavated earthen structure lined with stones. This occupation was likely associated with a dairy farm, as ditches filled with stones were sometimes used as a path for cows and other animals.
In some cases, the name Steinkuhle may have also been used to refer to someone who worked in the quarrying industry. This is because the production of stones was an important part of the economy in German-speaking areas dating back to the Middle Ages. Quarriers were often responsible for extracting and cutting stones from quarries.
The name Steinkuhle can also be a variation of the surname Stengle, which was derived from "Stang" (meaning "pole" or "stake") and "Kuhle" (meaning "ditch"). In this context, the name is a reference to someone who worked with poles and ditches in some form. The poles could have been used to support a structure, to line a ditch, or as a fence around a dairy farm.
In modern times, the last name Steinkuhle continues to be used in German-speaking countries. While it is most commonly found in Germany and Austria, families with this surname may have emigrated to the United States, Canada, Australia, and other parts of the world.
Order DNA origin analysisSteinkuhle: Where does the name Steinkuhle come from?
The last name Steinkuhle is commonly found in Germany today, particularly in the north and west of the country. The name is most heavily concentrated around North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Berlin/Brandenburg, and Hamburg. In the 2010 census, the name Steinkuhle was the 255th most common last name in Germany.
This surname likely derives from the German word "Steinkuhle", which translates to "stone pit". In this context, stone pits typically designated the extraction of stones or sand from the ground.
The Steinkuhles likely came to Germany from the Netherlands, likely carrying the name with them as they migrated. The name is found in the Netherlands as far back as the 17th century.
Steinkuhle is also found in the United States on a much smaller scale. Though the exact origin of the surname in the United States is unknown, today the name is strongly concentrated in Minnesota, where it was likely introduced by German immigrants in the 19th century.
The name Steinkuhle is far from unique in Germany, but its connection to stone pits provides a relevant and interesting history to those who carry the surname today.
Variations of the surname Steinkuhle
Steinkuhle is a German surname deriving from the Middle High German stankel, meaning "small stone". The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin typically include Steinkehle, Steincke, Steinckel, Steinkel, Stenckhle, Stienkehle, Steinkehl, Stinkel, Stankle and Steinhuhl.
The earliest known recorded instance of this name is from a document dating back to 1624, in which a Johannes Steinckhnel is recorded, and the earliest recorded ancestor of the name Steinkuhle is Lorenz Steinkehl Sen., who was born in Langentalshut, The Kingdom of Prussia (now Germany) in 1756.
Steinkehl is an alternate form of Steinkehle, and Stankle is an alternate spelling of Steinkuhle. Steinkehl and Stankle are also frequently found in Prussian and German records dating back to the 1700s. At the end of the 1700s, the name Stenckhle is found in records from Baden (now a German state).
The surname Steinkel also originates from the Middle High German stankel and is an alternate spelling of Steinkuhle that appears in records from 1673. Steinkel is more common in North America than Steinkuhle. Steincke and Steinckel are also found in records from the 1700s and 1800s in Prussia.
Steinhuhl is an alternate spelling of Steinkuhle that is primarily found in German records in the late 1800s. Steinhuhl is most commonly found in Northern Germany and its surrounding regions. Stienkehle is an alternate spelling of Steinkuhle found in records from 1787.
Finally, Stinkel is a specialized, less common variant of Steinkuhle seen in records from the 1700s and 1800s. It appears mainly in German records associated with Prussia, Bohemia, and the Palatinate region of Germany. Today, it is most commonly found in Northern Germany.
Famous people with the name Steinkuhle
- Daniel Steinkuhle: German politician and member of the Christian Democratic Union.
- Lawrence Steinkuhle: American Navy Test Pilot and Rear Admiral in the United States Navy.
- Phil Steinkuhle: American film and television producer, known for “Saw” and the “Paranormal Activity” film series.
- Michael Steinkuhle: German television show host and actor.
- Brigitte Steinkuhle: German modern pentathlete who competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
- Sascha Steinkuhle: German hurdler and sprinter.
- August Steinkuhle: German immigrant to the United States who founded the John Steinkuhle Mill Company in 1881.
- Alexander Steinkuhle: German painter and World War I veteran.
- Fred Steinkuhle: American football coach.
- John Steinkuhle: American entomologist and editor of the scientific journal "Psyche."