Surname Kalb - Meaning and Origin
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Kalb: What does the surname Kalb mean?
Kalb is a German surname that is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages. The word Kalb translates as calf or oxen in early German, and the name likely came from a family who kept and raised oxen. The surname was also used as a nickname for a person who had a large head, which was compared to the head of a calf or ox.
Kalb is a fairly common surname in Germany, and has spread to many of the countries that Germans have emigrated to. In the United States, the surname Kalb can be found in most states. It is also common in Austria, Switzerland, and many other countries where Germans have settled.
Although the origin of the name is not certain, some theorize that it may be related to the word Kahl, meaning bald. This is because a calf's head is often bald. Therefore, those with the Kalb surname may have been associated with either oxen or bald people. However, there is no definitive evidence for this theory.
Overall, the surname Kalb is believed to have arisen from an early German word for calf or oxen, and it is now found all over the world. Although the origin is uncertain, it is a distinct and unique German surname that is found in many countries.
Order DNA origin analysisKalb: Where does the name Kalb come from?
The last name Kalb is most commonly found in Germany and Austria. It is a relatively rare surname, and there are only about 2,000 people with the name living in the United States. The last name is also found in other parts of Europe, such as France, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
In Germany, Kalb is a toponymic name which was originally derived from a place name containing the German word for calf. It can be found in many provinces including North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, and Rhineland-Palatinate.
The surname has many variants, including Kahl, Kallb, Kälb, Kalbberg, Kalub, Kalbarczyk, Kalberer, Kalbfell, Kalbhenke, Kalk, Kellb, and Kollb. It is also found in Jewish families as well.
Kalb is also found in other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, India, and Israel. In the United States, the most populations with the name Kalb can be found in California, New York, and Pennsylvania. Other countries where the name is present include the United Kingdom, Argentina, Mexico, and South Africa.
The Kalb family has a long history. There are records of one family with the name Kalb as far back as the 16th century. During the Second World War members of this family were scattered all over Europe. Today, the name persists in many locations around the world and is an important part of many family histories.
Variations of the surname Kalb
The surname Kalb has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, some of which are listed below.
Kalb is a German, Ashkenazic Jewish surname, which originates from the Middle High German word “kalb”, meaning “calf”. Other surnames of the same origin to Kalb include Kalbfleish and Kalbsfleisch.
The Dutch and Flemish spelling of Kalb is Kalf. Other surnames of Dutch or Flemish origin include Kalfs, Kalfman, Kalfsman and Kalfstra.
In the Czech Republic, Kalb is spelled Kalbová. Some Czech-language surnames of the same origin include Kalbováček, Kalbovák and Kalbovský.
In Yiddish, the surname Kalb is typically spelled Kalev/Kaleb/Kolob/Kolov. Other Yiddish and/or Hebrew-origin surnames related to Kalb include Kalberer, Kalbus, Kalef, Kalef-Gaon, Kalfus, Kall, Kallfus, Kalmanowitz/Kalmanovich, Kamins/Kaminsz, Korn and Shor.
Spellings of Kalb in other languages include Kalb (German and Jewish/Yiddish), Kaldb (Yiddish), Cavł (Belarusian), Kalbo (Spanish), Kalbová (Czech), Kalbováček (Czech), Kalf (Dutch), Kalfman (Dutch), Kalfstra (Dutch) and Kalp (Turkish).
In Poland, the surname Kalb is typically spelled Kalbszlag. Other Polish surnames of the same origin include Kalbsztajn, Kalpsztajn, Kalwinski and Kaluza.
The Italian variant of the surname Kalb is Colbi. Other Italian surnames related to Colbi are Colbacchi, Colbacchini, Colbacco, Colbaccola and Colbucci.
The French variant of the surname Kalb is Colb. Other French surnames related to Kalb include Colbeaux, Colboud and Colomb.
In English, the surname tends to be spelled Kalb, but other English surnames related to Kalb include Calf, Calb, Colb, Kalberer, Kalbus, Kelf, Kelle and Kelp.
Famous people with the name Kalb
- Bernard Kalb: US journalist and presidential advisor
- Ambrose Kalb: US Revolutionary War soldier
- Marina Kalb: Belgian-born French actress
- Ray Kalb: American football coach
- Marquis de Kalb: French-born US Revolutionary War soldier
- Michael Kalb: American political scientist
- Joe Kalb: American sports broadcaster
- Hilda Kalb: Austrian-born Jewish resistance fighter
- Alex Kalb: American guitarist
- Hans Kalb: German sculptor