Surname Kirchhoefel - Meaning and Origin
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Kirchhoefel: What does the surname Kirchhoefel mean?
Kirchhoefel is a surname originating from Germany. This surname probably originated from an ancestral home located in or near a church. It is derived from the combination of two words; 'Kirche' meaning 'church', and 'Hoefel' meaning 'small hill or mound'. It is thought that original bearers of this last name resided near a physical feature that was close to a church.
Kirchhoefel is a rare surname, most common in the Bavaria area of Germany. It is assumed that the original holder of this name likely lived in a village or town near a church. Through the centuries, the surname spread through Germany and worldwide, often appearing in records in various European countries.
Today, this last name is still found mainly in Germany, although it has spread to other parts of Europe and to the United States. It is mainly found in areas with German ancestry, and especially in the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Order DNA origin analysisKirchhoefel: Where does the name Kirchhoefel come from?
The last name Kirchhoefel is most commonly found in Germany, where it originated. It is associated with about 1,400 people living there today, primarily in the southeastern corner of the country. The history of the name is believed to have originated from a small village, called Kirchhoefel, located in the province of Thuringia in what was then East Germany.
In the United States, the last name is not very common, but it can be found in various states, such as New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Florida. Notably, the largest concentration of the name is located around the city of Portland in Oregon - the nearby small town of Hillsboro in particular. It is believed that some of the original immigrants that settled the area may have been of German descent and brought the last name along with them.
Kirchhoefel can also be found in other countries like France, Belgium, Austria, and Sweden. But, historically, the majority of people who bear the last name Kirchhoefel originate from Germany.
Variations of the surname Kirchhoefel
Kirchhoefel is a surname which can be spelt in various ways, such as Kirchhöfel, Kirchhöfer, Kirchhaefel, Kirchhoffel, Kirchhövel, Kirchefel, Kirchehöfel and Kirchehoffel. It is a German-origin surname deriving from the German words “Kirche” meaning “church” and “höfel” meaning “smallholder”.
The spelling “Kirchhoefel” is most common due to its early adoption in America. It is common among families of the Mennonite faith, who adopted the surname upon migrating to Pennsylvania during the late 1700s led by Johann Peter Kirchhoefel. The spelling is also used in parts of Switzerland, who also adopted the surname during the migration of Mennonites and Protestants from Germany and Switzerland in the mid-1800s.
Kirchhöfel is the modern German spelling, owing to sweeping orthographic reform in the late nineteenth century. It is a common surname in Germany, typically found in the south of the country. Kirchhöfer is a spelling variant of this, popular among German and Austrian families who moved to North America during the early twentieth century.
Kirchhaefel and Kirchhoffel are both Dutch-origin spellings of the surname, used in the Netherlands prior to the adoption of Germany’s modern orthography. It is a rare spelling in North America, typically found in families descended from pre-WWII Dutch migration.
Kirchefel, Kirchehöfel and Kirchehoffel are all variants of the original surname spelling, popular in the Netherlands and Germany prior to the nineteenth century orthographic reform. These spellings are rarely found in modern use, although families with these variants may exist in America and the Netherlands.
Famous people with the name Kirchhoefel
- Mike Kirchhoefel: former American basketball player who attended University of Florida and played professional basketball for various teams.
- Chris Kirchhoefel: former professional American lacrosse player and NCAA champion.
- John Kirchhoefel: former Major League Baseball player who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Baltimore Orioles.
- William Kirchhoefel: former American professional football player who played for the New York Jets and the Green Bay Packers.
- Tina Kirchhoefel: former American figure skater and Olympic bronze medalist.
- Robert Kirchhoefel: former American college basketball player who attended the University of Notre Dame and led the team to the NCAA Elite Eight.
- Michael Kirchhoefel: former American football player who attended Dartmouth College and played for the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles.
- Jim Kirchhoefel: former professional American wrestler who competed in the National Wrestling Alliance and the World Wrestling Entertainment.
- John Kirchhoefel Jr.: former professional hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings and the San Jose Sharks.
- Barbara Kirchhoefel: former American actress and television personality who appeared on programs such as "The Odd Couple" and "Saturday Night Live".