Surname Kannenberg - Meaning and Origin

Kannenberg: What does the surname Kannenberg mean?

The last name Kannenberg is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German words "Kanin" and "berg" which translate literally to "rabbit hill." The original bearer of this surname is thought to have come from a settlement located on a hill where rabbits were found.

In old German, the name is usually spelled Kanninberg, and that is thought to be its original form. The earliest recorded use of the name is found in a profile of a man who died in 1345.

One of the most common theories about the existence of this surname is that it was derived from a person's residence near a rabbit hill. Other theories include a connection to a pond where rabbits were raised for food, an identification of people by rabbit-related activities such as trappery, or as an occupational name for hunters.

The surname Kannenberg has since spread throughout Germany and other areas in Central and Western Europe such as Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Belgium. It can also be found in the United States.

Most members of this family today are descendents of the original bearer of the surname. They are mostly engaged in various professions such as business, farming, or teaching.

Kannenberg: Where does the name Kannenberg come from?

The last name Kannenberg is most common in Germany today. It is believed to be a German occupational name for a cooper or barrel maker, derived from the German word “Kanne” meaning “can,” and “Berg” meaning “mountain.” Other variations of the name include Kanneberg, Könenberg, Conenberg, and Koenenberg.

As of the 2014 German Census, there were more than 9,000 Kannenbergs in Germany, most of them living in the circles of East Berlin, Stettin, Breslau, Kreis Grossenhain and Rathenow. This suggests that they were among the German settlers to settle in these areas in the 19th and 20th centuries.

However, the name may have also originated in other European countries, as there are Kannenbergs in Austria, The Netherlands, Poland, and Slovakia as well. Since many of the families of Kannenberg have intermarried, it’s not uncommon to find the last name in areas of Canada and the United States, where German immigrants took up residence during the 1800s.

Today, Kannenberg is a much more widespread name, and can be found in Belgium, Great Britain, France, Ireland, Finland, and other parts of the world. It remains more common in Germany than anywhere else, however.

Variations of the surname Kannenberg

The surname Kannenberg has a few variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

The German version is Kannenburg, and is a habitational name originating from Hannenburg in the district of Merseburg in Saxony, Germany. This is the most common spelling and variant in Germany today.

The Kannenberg surname is also common in the Netherlands and is spelled Kanneberg. This spelling of the name originates in Dutch, and is derived from the Dutch word “Kan”, meaning “Canal”. This spelling is also found in Dutch military records from the 1800’s.

In the United States, the Kannenberg surname has been Americanized to Kennyberg. Kennyberg is a common surname found in the Midwest and Pennsylvania regions of the US.

The Kannenberg surname is also found in England, where it is spelled Canaberg. Canaberg is a family name that originated in Lancashire, England, in the 1600’s.

Kannenberg is a Germanic surname, and its variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin are a reflection of its history. Kannenberg is the original name, and variations such as Kannenburg, Kanneberg, Kennyberg, and Canaberg are derived from the spelling throughout Europe and other parts of the world.

Famous people with the name Kannenberg

• Anna Kannenberg: German figure skater.
• Emily Kannenberg: Miss North Dakota USA 2010 and an adjunct faculty member of Tompkins Cortland Community College.
• Karin Kannenberg: Austrian alpine skier who competed in the 1976 Winter Olympics.
• Kay Kannenberg: German biathlete.
• Lucas Kannenberg: German ski jumper who competed in the 1992 Olympics.
• Stefan Kannenberg: German equestrian who competed and medaled in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
• Vince Kannenberg: American football coach who is currently the tight ends position coach for the New England Patriots.
• Björn Kannenberg: German professional football player, currently playing for Holstein Kiel.
• Bruce Kannenberg: American darts player who competed in the World Series of Darts.
• Corinne Kannenberg: German cyclist who was a bronze medalist in the UCI Road World Championships in 1989.

Other surnames

Kannenberger