Surname Kapphan - Meaning and Origin
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Kapphan: What does the surname Kapphan mean?
The last name Kapphan is of German origin and is derived from the German word “Kappe” which means hat. The name dates back to the medieval period when individuals were known by the type of headgear they wore, and the hat was the most common form of headgear. Historically, the name was associated with trades such as millinery, where hats were made or repaired. In some cases, the Kapphan name was likely associated with a specific profession as "Kappe Schneider" could mean a tailor who sewed hats.
The Kapphan surname is found in records as far back as the late 13th century in German documents where it appears to have been derived from professions associated with hats. It is found in records in the countries of Germany, Austria, Czechia, and Poland. Over time the name Kapphan has been used as a given name as well. It is often seen as a middle name and is also found as a surname in countries like Sweden, Denmark, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Today, the name Kapphan is still a common name in German-speaking countries and is also found in various parts of the world. It is likely to be a name that has endured over time since it was associated with a profession that was relatively stable. People who have the Kapphan surname may be proud of their name as it is steeped in history dating back to the Middle Ages.
Order DNA origin analysisKapphan: Where does the name Kapphan come from?
The last name Kapphan (also written Kaphan) is most commonly found in Germany today. Kapphan is a diminutive of the popular German surname Kappman, which is derived from the German word of Kapman meaning “merchant”. The name was most likely adopted by families who originally owned small businesses within the area.
In the 18th century, many families with the last name Kapphan migrated to other parts of Europe, especially to what is now the Czech Republic. Today, the Kapphan surname is most prominent in the Czech Republic and in Poland. It is also found in smaller numbers in Germany, France, Austria, and Switzerland.
Due to a large number of German immigrants who came to the United States in the 19th century, the Kapphan surname is also common in American circles today. The 2010 US Census reported 276 people with the Kapphan surname living in the United States. The majority of those people were living in New Jersey, California, New York, and Pennsylvania.
In addition, people with the Kapphan name can be found scattered around other parts of the world as part of the German diaspora. They can be found in Australia, Canada, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Argentina, and other countries.
Variations of the surname Kapphan
The surname Kapphan is a tadpole variation of the German name Kapphan. It is also spelled as Kapphahn, Kaphan, Kaphahn, Kaffhahn, Kaphan, Kaphan, Capphan, and Capphahn.
The name Kapphan is derived from the German word ‘kapf’ which means ‘head’. The name, therefore, is believed to have originated as a nickname for someone with a large head, or as a metonymic occupational name for a hat-maker or wearer.
The surname Kapphan is often associated with the surnames Kapfen, Kappf, Kapffenberg, Kappeln, Kaffenberger, Kaffenburg, and Kappfberg. These names also have a direct relation to the word ‘kapf’ and share the same origin.
Other German variants of the surname Kapphan include Kaphan, Kafan, Kekkan, Kechen, Kochen, Kuchen, Kuecken, Keck, Kuehling, Kuchling, Kohne, Kohn, Kuehn, Kehne, Koehn, Kuehm, Kuehn, Kuehne, Koeln, Kolitzer, Kohlwitz, Kuehner, Kaufmann, Kauffmann, Kauffman, Koffmann, Kauffman, Kohnfmann, Kohnfah, Kohnen, and Kauen.
In some cases, different forms of the name have developed due to local dialects. For example, in some German-speaking regions, the name Kapphan was occasionally turned into Koffan or Kaffan.
The surnames Caffee, Caffey, Kaffey, Kafer, Kifer, Kafey, Coffe, Coffey, Coffa, and Coffee also share a common origin with the name Kapphan.
Famous people with the name Kapphan
- Franka Kapphan: German writer and critic
- Eißer Kapphan: German playwright and actor
- Jens Kapphan: German filmmaker
- Heiner Kapphan: German actor
- Gudrun Kapphan: German actress
- Susan Kapphan: German singer
- Ludolf Kapphan: German painter and sculptor
- Franz Kapphan: German architect
- Jutta Kapphan: German stage and screen actress
- Günter Kapphan: German linguist and author