Surname Dammköhler - Meaning and Origin
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Dammköhler: What does the surname Dammköhler mean?
The last name Dammköhler is a German occupational surname derived from the term ‘dammköhler’, which means a person who worked in the maintenance of a dam, levee, or dyke. It is one of the many names that originated in the time of the Middle Ages, when most people were referred to solely by their occupation.
In the rural parts of Germany, there were many mills and waterways, so it was common for people to build, maintain, and work on dams, levees, and dykes. Those who did this job were given the name Dammköhler. Many of these workers were highly regarded for the important job they did, in making sure the dams, levees, and dykes were in proper working order.
The name is derived from the root words “damm” and “köhler”, with damm most likely referring to a dam or dyke, and köhler being a derivative of the verb “köhlen”, which means to cool, or lower the flow of water.
Today, the last name Dammköhler is one of the many examples of German names that contains the suffix “köhler”, which is a direct reference to dam-working; however, it is a surname that is slowly fading away as it has all but died out with the changing times.
Order DNA origin analysisDammköhler: Where does the name Dammköhler come from?
The last name Dammköhler is generally believed to have originated in Germany. This family name is most commonly found today in German-speaking countries including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as parts of Eastern Europe such as Hungary and the Czech Republic. It is also found in smaller numbers in countries such as the Netherlands, Great Britain, and the United States.
In recent years, the last name has become quite rare in Germany, with only a few thousand people carrying the name today. Those with Dammköhler as a last name tend to come primarily from the historical regions of South Germany, particularly Württemberg and parts of Bavaria.
In the United States, Dammköhler is a relatively rare name, though it can be found among some German-Americans with roots in these regions. People with the name Dammköhler in the United States are concentrated primarily in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states, where German Americans began to settle in the early eighteenth century.
The name Dammköhler is usually understood to have been derived from words meaning "dampened-cellar," suggesting that this family may have had something to do with either winemaking or baking. It could also be possible that the name has nothing to do with either of these occupations, though it is often assumed by those with the last name that it is of such a derivation.
Variations of the surname Dammköhler
Variants and spellings of Dammköhler include Damköhler, Dammkoehler, Damkoehler, Dammkohler, Damkohler, Dammkoeler, Damkoeler, Dammköler, Damköler, and Demmkoeler. Other surnames with the same origin as Dammköhler include Damkoehler, Dammeer, Dammacker, Dammhocker, and Dammhöfer.
Dammköhler is a German last name derived from the Middle High German word ‘damm,’ which means ‘dam.’ It is likely that bearers of the name originally lived near a dam, such as a water reservoir.
Dammköhler and its variants can be found as far back as the 14th century in Germany, when many families bearing the surname were living in the cities of Bavaria and Saxony. By the 17th century, they had spread throughout Europe, and in the 19th century, some families began to settle in America.
The first bearers of the Dammköhler surname were likely involved in water engineering and other activities related to the trade. In the centuries since, some members of the Dammköhler family have been successful engineers, farmers, merchants, and tradespeople.
Today, the Dammköhler family name can be found all over the world. While some of its variants, such as Damkoehler, are far less common than others, such as Dammköhler, all versions of the name still exist.
Famous people with the name Dammköhler
- Erwin Dammköhler (1906-1979) was a German neurophysiologist best known for his contributions to the field of neuroscience.
- Karl Dammköhler (1869-1943) was a well-known German chemist and physicist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1930 for his work on isomeric compounds.
- Annaliese Dammköhler (1890-1942) was a German freelance fashion designer and stylist who was notable for her use of bright colors, folk elements, and abstract shapes in her designs.
- Alexander Dammköhler (1882-1945) was a German pilot and flying ace who participated in both World War I and World War II.
- Horst Dammköhler (1919-1994) was a German composer, conductor, and music educator who composed some of the signature songs for the 1964 German Summer Olympics.
- Hans Dammköhler (1897-1982) was a German-American sculptor and painter who worked in a variety of media, and is remembered for his sculptures honoring World War I veterans.
- Kurt Dammköhler (1911-1992) was a German architect and professor of building engineering, who left a lasting impact on German modernism and became one of the first proponents of a structuralist approach to design.
- Johannes Dammköhler (1851-1931) was a German mathematician and physicist who made important contributions to the field of thermodynamics and was a pioneer in the study of non-equilibrium systems.