Surname Käuffert - Meaning and Origin

Käuffert: What does the surname Käuffert mean?

The last name Käuffert originates from Germany. It is a habitational name derived from a place called Käuffert in the district of Marburg-Biedenkopf, Hessen. The place itself is very old, having been mentioned in documents from as far back as the 14th century.

Käuffert is an ethnic-based name derived from the Germanic people of Central Germany and the Upper Rhine, called Hessians. In its current spelling, the suffix "-ert" or "-erts" is derived from the diminutive of names determined from personal characteristics, "heri," and given to a child to distinguish it from others from the same family, much like the Scottish or Irish "Mc" or "Mac" suffix.

Käuffert can be translated to English as 'little engine', reflecting its original meaning as 'a person who is energetic and strong-willed'. It is also well-known for connotations of faith, diligence and industriousness, suggesting that the Käuffert family had considerable success and achieved notable success.

Given its humble origins and positive connotations, it is no surprise that the last name Käuffert has been passed down through the years, and can still be found in Germany and across the world today.

Käuffert: Where does the name Käuffert come from?

The last name Käuffert is primarily found in the countries of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. According to the 1995 German Census, it is the 8,398th most common surname in Germany. It is not a particularly common surname, but it is far from rare.

In Switzerland, the name Käuffer is less common than in Germany, but it is still relatively widespread. The 1990 Swiss Census recorded just 27 people with the last name Käuffer, ranking it the 16,477th most common Swiss surname.

The name Käuffert is also found in Austria, to a lesser extent compared to Germany and Switzerland. The 1998 Census of Austria recorded just 19 people with the surname Käuffert, ranking it the 41,154th most common Austrian last name. This is slightly higher than in Switzerland, but lower than in Germany.

Overall, the last name Käuffert is a relatively uncommon surname in Europe, however it is still widely found in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.

Variations of the surname Käuffert

The surname Käuffert is of German origin and can be spelt in various ways including Kauffert, Kaufert, Kauffart, Kaffert, Kaffer, Kaffert, Kaffart, Keuffert, Koffart, Koffert, Köffert, Köffart.

It is typically a patronymic surname, which means that it generally formed from the father’s given name, usually with an -s or -es ending. In this case, it is thought to have derived from the Germanic personal name ‘Konrad’ or ‘Conrad’, and the suffix ‘fert’, which is derived from ‘fer’, which is an old Germanic word meaning ‘ability’. Other versions of the surname include Koontz, Konopka, and Conner.

Käuffert can also be a variation of the surnames Koffort, Koffert, Köffert, Käufer, Käuferstein and Käufner, which all originated from a multitude of different Germanic personal names that end with 'fert' and ‘frith’. Some examples include Caffert, Candefert, Griefert, and Roofert.

The spelling can change depending on which dialect region within German-speaking countries the person originated from. For example, it can be spelt Kauffart in Upper Bavarian and Kaffert in Middle Franconian. It can also be spelt with a Umlaut (diacritic mark) such as Ä, to become Käuffert, Käufer or Käufner, or with one of the characters C, G or K.

There are multiple variations and spelling possibilities of the surname Käuffert, most of which are derivatives of Konrad or Conrad. Whichever way it is spelt, the meaning in German remains the same: “a brave man with the ability and strength to persevere”.

Famous people with the name Käuffert

• Herbert Käuffert (1930-2016), German lawyer and politician
• Robert Käuffert (1919-2010), German navy officer and government minister
• Bernhard Käuffert (born 1967), German professor and author
• Hermann Käuffert (1894-1946), German theologian
• Lothar Käuffert (born 1968), German jazz and classical music pianist
• Annika Käuffert (born 1987), German Olympic athlete
• Henry Käuffert (1884-1978), German writer and dramatist
• Gustav Käuffert (1850-1913), German naval officer and explorer
• Peter Käuffert (1907-1993), German diplomat
• Angelika Käuffert (born 1957), German judge
• Thomas Käuffert (born 1974), German politician
• Maria Käuffert (1902-1986), German music teacher and composer

Other surnames

KaufferKäuffer