Surname Kaltenhauser - Meaning and Origin

Kaltenhauser: What does the surname Kaltenhauser mean?

The last name Kaltenhauser is a German surname derived from the Middle German words ‘Kaltehous’ or ‘Kaltenhaus’. The literal translation of ‘Kaltehous’ is ‘cold house’, and it is thought to have been used as a name for a house that was cold, possibly due to its location or lack of insulation. It could also be the name of an inhabitant of a house or village that was known for its coldness. Historically, the name has been used as either an occupational or toponymic surname.

The Kaltenhauser surname is thought to have originated during the mid 12th-century, when it was common for people to name their houses. The surname could also have been derived from a poor climatic or geographical area, since the name reflects someone who lived in an environment that was much cooler than the surrounding area. The use of the word ‘Hauser’ in the surname implies that the family came from a long-established family line, as it was often used to denote hereditary status.

The history of the Kaltenhauser surname is closely associated with the German region of Bohemia, though it is believed to have been used in other parts of Europe as well. In addition to being used as a surname, Kaltenhauser can also be found as the name of a small German village in the Bavarian region of Germany. The name is also featured in several notable works of fiction, including the classic novel ‘The Essential Kafka’ by Franz Kafka, in which it is used as a metaphor for coldness and loneliness.

Kaltenhauser: Where does the name Kaltenhauser come from?

The Kaltenhauser surname is of German origin and is relatively common today, particularly in German-speaking countries. Including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, the name is estimated to be held by over 35,000 people.

In Germany, the Kaltenhauser name is particularly abundant in the Bavaria region. Bavaria is a state in southeastern Germany, and here, the Kaltenhauser name is one of the top 500 most common surnames. Not surprisingly, some of the highest concentrations of Kaltenhauser families can be found in the towns and cities in Bavaria.

The Kaltenhauser name also has some presence in other German-speaking countries, such as Austria and Switzerland. Although this surname is less common than in Germany, researchers estimate that the name is still held by at least 2,000 people in Austria. In Switzerland, the name is present in the German and French-speaking parts, particularly in the Valais canton, located in the south of the country.

Outside of German-speaking countries, the Kaltenhauser surname also appears in the US and Canada, where it is less common. Here, the name is most likely to be found in places with high concentrations of German immigrants, such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and the Midwest.

In short, the Kaltenhauser surname is relatively common, particularly in German-speaking countries. It is most likely to be found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the US, and Canada.

Variations of the surname Kaltenhauser

The surname Kaltenhauser is of German origin, derived from the Old High German words “calten” meaning “cold” and “hauz” meaning “house”, thus “Kaltenhauser” literally translates to “cold house”. This family name has several variants with a variety of spellings, including Kaltenhäuser, Kalthinhauser, Kalttenhauer, Kalttenhauser, Kaltenhaeuser, Kalthinhauer, Kaltenhauer and Kalttenhäuser.

In some cases, the name may have been changed to “Kalteiser”, derived from the Upper German dialect “Kaltleiten” meaning the same as “Kaltenhauser”. Other variants and spellings of this surname include Kaltanhäuser, Kaltinhauser, Kalteenhauser, Kaltenhauer, Kaltannhauer, Kalthenauser, Kaltinhauer and Kaltenhäuser.

This surname can also appear in various forms, including Kalternhäuser, Kaltemhäuser, Kaltmanhäuser, Kaldenhauser, Kauldenhauser, Koldenhauser, Coldenhauser, Koldenhoiser, Koldenhoeffer, Kaldenhoefer, Koltanhaus, Kahltenhauser, Keltanhauser, Keltmanhauser, Koltmanhauser, Koltenhauser, and Coltmanhauser.

At times, the name may be shortened to “Kalt” or “Ko”. Other surnames stemming from this origin include Kayser, Kayserling, Kayserle, Kayzer, Kühling and Kuelin.

As the surname spread across the world, other derivative surnames emerged, such as Kaltwieser in Austria, Kaltweiser in Bavaria, Kaltin in Hungary, Kaltenbrace in the Netherlands, Kaltinbunker in Lithuania, and Kaltenbrogge in Germany.

Overall, the Kaltenhauser surname has a vast array of potential variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin that can help individuals trace their genealogy and ancestry.

Famous people with the name Kaltenhauser

• Heidi Kaltenhauser: Austrian handball goalkeeper who competed in the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games.
• Christine Kaltenhauser: Austrian professional golfer who won the Austrian ladies amateur championships in 1972.
• Heinrich Kaltenhauser: Austrian politician and lawyer who was a cabinet minister in the 1930s.
• Fritz Kaltenhauser: composer from Vienna who wrote orchestral works, chamber music and lieder.
• Alfred Kaltenhauser: Austrian cinematographer who was responsible for groundbreaking camera techniques and scenes in films such as The Great Escape (1963) and The Bridge Over The River Kwai (1957).
• Sigismund Kaltenhauser: Austrian painter who was mainly influenced of the cubism and expressionism styles.
• Erich Kaltenhauser: German scientist and professor at the University of Berlin who made significant contributions to the fields of physics and biology.
• Leonora von Kaltenhauser: German socialite and philanthropist who was born and raised in Ratibor, Upper Silesia.
• Karl Kaltenhauser: Austrian sculptor known for his bronze portrait busts.
• Elisabeth Kaltenhauser: Austrian cellist and music teacher who was a prominent participant in the 1960s Bach revival movement.

Other surnames

Kaltenhäußer