Surname Kahlscheid - Meaning and Origin
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Kahlscheid: What does the surname Kahlscheid mean?
The last name Kahlscheid is of German origin and it derives from a place called Kahlscheid that is located in North Rhine-Westphalia. The original form of the place name is derived from the combination of two German words: kahl, which means 'bald', and scheid, which means 'border'. As such, the literal meaning of the name Kahlscheid is 'bald border', which likely refers to the landscape around the area, which features a flat landscape interspersed with some ridges or small hills.
The earliest known records of Kahlscheid date back to the 13th century and the earliest recorded use of the name Kahlscheid can be found on the documents of a local church called the Johanniskirche. Over time, the name Kahlscheid has been used as a family name, which is why it is still in use today.
Kahlscheid has historically been associated with the region of the Lower Rhine Valley, where families with the name Kahlscheid emerged and lived for centuries. Although the name Kahlscheid might indicate a stark landscape with mostly flat plains and ridges, the area around Kahlscheid is quite varied, featuring riverside, wooded, and hilly terrain as well as multiple historic villages.
Today, the name Kahlscheid still stands as a reminder of German history and heritage. Although the area around Kahlscheid has changed over the centuries, the name remains a testament to what this area has gone through and how it continues to remain part of Germany's collective cultural identity.
Order DNA origin analysisKahlscheid: Where does the name Kahlscheid come from?
Kahlscheid is one of the most common last names in Germany, particularly in the western part of the country. The small town of Kahlscheid in North-Rhine Westphalia is the region with the highest concentration of people with the surname. Other areas where you are likely to find the surname include the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and the United States.
Due to the large influx of German immigrants to the U.S. during the 19th and 20th centuries, Kahlscheid is now one of the most common last names in the United States. It is especially common in the states with large populations of German ancestry including Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin. It is also found in states with a significant presence of the Mennonite religious movement, which originated in Germany.
For many years Kahlscheid has been a popular name among the Jewish community because, although it is not specific to the Jewish religion, the phonetic spelling is very similar to “Chaletzky” which is a common Jewish-German name. Interestingly, the name has become more diverse over the years as it is also increasingly associated with non-German families.
The last name Kahlscheid is also common in some parts of Canada due to the large influx of German immigrants during the 19th and 20th centuries. In Canada, you will most likely find the name in the provinces of Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia.
Overall, the last name Kahlscheid has seen a steady increase in popularity in recent years and is now one of the most common surnames in Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and other countries.
Variations of the surname Kahlscheid
The surname Kahlscheid has several variant spellings and surnames of the same origin. One of the most common variants is Kalisch. Variations of this surname include Kalischke, Kalish, Kalishnik, Kallisch, Kallish, Kallishnik, Kalischoff, Kalishoff, Kallysh, and Kallyshnik.
Other variants of Kahlscheid include Kahlschmid, Kalscheid, Kalschmid, Kalishrid, Kalschmit, Kalisher, Kalschmidt, Kalsher, Kalischmidt, Kuchscheid, Kalcheide, Kalshchaid, Kalcheschmidt, and Kalischschmidt.
The surname Kahlscheid is derived from a combination of two German words, “Kahl” and “Scheid,” which mean ‘bald’ and ‘dividing line’ respectively. The surname originated with the idea of people living close to a geographical or artificial boundary line. In some cases, the name might also have come from someone who lived on a bald hill or near a bald hill.
Kahlscheid is considered a habitational name, meaning that it is derived from a geographical or topographical feature such as a landscape, river, mountain, or landmark. The surname might also denote a place where people congregated, such as a religious center or monastery.
Regardless of the origin, Kahlscheid has served as the basis for many other surnames over time, including variants such as Kalisch, Kahlschmid, and Kalscheid, among others.
Famous people with the name Kahlscheid
- Hermine Kahlscheid: an actress from early 20th century Germany who was mainly active from 1920-1930.
- Willy Kahlscheid: a German historian and author who wrote about the German labor movement and also wrote the 1977 biography 'Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff: Ein Geschichtsforscher zwischen Tradition und Moderne'.
- Harald Kahlscheid: a German urban planner and ecologist who is an expert in sustainable city development and green infrastructure planning.
- Stefan Kahlscheid: a former professional cyclist from Germany who competed in different races up until his retirement in 1992.
- Karl Kahlscheid: a 20th century baritone opera singer, who was known for his portrayal of characters from Wagner operas.
- Maria Kahlscheid: a German schoolteacher and author who wrote several historical novels portraying life in Germany between 1870-1933.
- Hans Kahlscheid: a former German football (soccer) goalkeeper who played in the Bundesliga from 1965-1974.
- Gesine Kahlscheid: a German Olympic champion in artistic gymnastics who won gold at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.
- Henning Kahlscheid: a German athlete from the 20th century specializing in middle distance running.
- Johannes Kahlscheid: a prominent 20th century German jurist who wrote extensively on the German definitive law system, Roman law, and criminal law.