Surname Kalbfell - Meaning and Origin
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Kalbfell: What does the surname Kalbfell mean?
The last name Kalbfell is of Germanic origin, originating from the German language and meaning “calf feller” or “calf reaper”. This refers to someone who originally worked in the field of animal husbandry, specifically taming and caring for calves. This particular profession was one that would have been seen as respectable, with the people who performed it being looked up to by others.
The surname would have been adopted very early on by people who were involved with animal husbandry, particularly in the Northern German states and surrounding areas. This would have been taken on as a personal surname in the 13th century, possibly in an attempt to label one’s family in a certain way or in order to indicate one’s profession.
As the Middle Ages progressed, the name likely became more common as the profession became increasingly important. People with the last name Kalbfell were likely respected members of the community, and the name was likely adopted by succeeding generations in order to honor the family’s work in the field of animal husbandry.
Today, the last name Kalbfell is more widespread than ever and carries with it a strong association with its original source of origin. It still carries its original meaning of "Calf Feller" or "Calf Reaper" and remains an important part of the family’s history and origin story.
Order DNA origin analysisKalbfell: Where does the name Kalbfell come from?
The last name Kalbfell is not a common name today. It is however, a historic German surname which can be found throughout Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. The name Kalbfell is derived from the German word for calf and was an occupational name for a cattle herdsman.
In modern times, the Kalbfell surname appears most predominantly in Germany where it can be found in pockets throughout the east of the country. It is very uncommon in the United States, although some scattered families do exist.
In Germany, some cities with a higher concentration of the last name Kalbfell include Dresden, Leipzig, Nuremberg, and Berlin. Outside of Germany, Austria is another country where someone with the last name Kalbfell is more likely to live, particularly near the capital city of Vienna. It is also found in pockets in Hungary, Czech Republic, and some other eastern European countries.
Despite its historic German roots, the Kalbfell last name is uncommon today and can be hard to find. It is not as common as other German surnames like Klein and Krause, but one can still find pockets in certain parts of Germany, Austria, Hungary, and other countries.
Variations of the surname Kalbfell
The surname Kalbfell is believed to have numerous variant spellings. Some of the variants include Kalbfeil, Kalbfaell, Kalbfel, Kalbfaiele, Kalbvaill, Kalbfaill, Kalbvaile, Kalpfail, Kalpfel, Kalpfeil, Kalpfeld, Kalpfael, Kalpfelde, Kalpfaill, Kalpvaill, Kalpveale, Kalbfill, Kalbvil, Kalbvilla, Kalbvell, Kalbvaell, Kalbfiale, Kalbfyele, Kalbfeule, Kalpfyele, Kalpfill, Kalpvilla, Kalpvell, Kalbville, Kalbveule, Kalbfial, Kalbfyle, Kalbfyel, and Kalbpfield.
The spellings of the surname likely originated due to the widespread lack of education and written records during the Middle Ages, and these various spellings can be found on different documents representing the same family. Additionally, many of the early variations of this surname in Europe were a result of linguistic differences. Most of the variations are from the Germanic and French language which developed in different regions.
The surnames Kalbfell, Kalbfeil, Kalbfaell, Kalbfaiele, Kalpfail, Kalpfel, Kalpfeil, Kalpfeld, Kalpfaell, Kalpvaill, Kalpveale, Kalbfill, and Kalbvil are all derived from the root word “Kalb” meaning calf. The other variants, such as Kalbfaill, Kalbvaile, Kalbvaill, Kalbvaell, Kalbfiale, Kalbfyele, Kalbfeule, Kalpfyele, Kalpfill, Kalpvilla, Kalpvell, Kalbville, Kalbveule, Kalbfial, Kalbfyle, Kalbfyel, and Kalbpfield are thought to be either an adaptation of the original spelling or a variation of the root word “Kalb”.
The Kalbfell surname originated in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, and Poland, and can also be found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand due to mass emigration from Europe during the 1700’s and 1800’s. It is a relatively rare surname, and some of the family members who originally held the surname Kalbfell have since changed it to a different name.
Famous people with the name Kalbfell
- Uwe Kalbfell: Uwe Kalbfell is a car designer turned entrepreneur with over thirty years of experience in the auto industry. He was the head of design for BMW, Porsche and Lotus and also served as CEO for McLaren Automotive from 2012–2014. 2.Sylvia Kalbfell: Sylvia Kalbfell is a German politician from the Christian Democratic Union and served as the Minister of State for Culture for the State of North Rhine-Westphalia from 2005-2012.
- Magnus Kalbfell: Magnus Kalbfell is the CEO of Northvolt, a Swedish startup that aims to build a battery gigafactory in Sweden. He served as the CEO of Scania, a Swedish truck manufacturer, from 2000-2011.
- Michael Kalbfell: Michael Kalbfell is a German business executive who served as CEO of the Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) from 2001 to 2006.
- Ernst-Jürgen Kalbfell: Ernst-Jürgen Kalbfell was a German magistrate and chairman of the Association of Protestant Churches in Thuringia from 1983-1991.
- Major General John Kalbfell: Major General John Kalbfell was a United States Army soldier who served in the Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf War. He was the Deputy Commanding General for Army Research, Development and Acquisition from 1989–1991.
- Fritz Kalbfell: Fritz Kalbfell was a German sportsman, six times champion in gymnastics and three times track and field champion for the state of Baden-Württemberg.