Surname Koebe - Meaning and Origin
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Koebe: What does the surname Koebe mean?
Koebe is a German surname derived from the Middle High German word 'kobe', meaning 'ruler', 'king', 'leader' or 'lord'. It is believed to have originally been a patronymic name, with the descendants of a man with this name naming themselves after him. Koebe is most commonly found in Germany, though it has spread to other countries over time as people have emigrated.
The Koebe surname has had a long history—it appears in records as early as the 1500s. The Koebe family is believed to have come from Bavaria, though some branches of the family are believed to have become distributed throughout Europe over the centuries.
Koebe appears to be an occupational name, with people bearing the surname having considerable social status or influence. They were often influential merchant-class people, the ones now referred to as 'entrepreneurs'. They pioneered certain technologies in their trade, notably in textiles. In landed nobility, some branches of the family established and administered farms, or held government offices that allowed them to have considerable influence in their area.
The Koebe surname has come to represent a certain level of business acumen, and it is still seen today as attesting to a person having high status or respect. It is often the type of surname used to represent a certain level of sophistication or success.
Order DNA origin analysisKoebe: Where does the name Koebe come from?
The last name Koebe is most commonly found in Germany today. Records indicate that first occurrences of this surname date back to the 13th century, with earliest recorded mentions in both Oldenburg and Prussia. Since then, it has primarily remained concentrated in Germany, with highest populations in Hamburg and Lower Saxony.
Although the exact region of origin for the Koebe surname is not definitively known, it is believed to be locational in origin, likely denoting a place of origin. This is quite common among German surname, as surnames were often derived from the place where a person once lived. Moreover, many families who carried the Koebe surname have also stayed in the same region for centuries.
Aside from German, the name Koebe is also found in several other countries today, such as Denmark, Norway, Belgium, France, and even the United States. In the United States specifically, Koebe is found in Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota. This could suggest that those individuals are descendants of Germans who emigrated to the US in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Today, the surname Koebe remains most common in Germany, although its prevalence has been slowly declining over the past 100 years. It continues to be found in other countries as well, albeit with much lower frequency.
Variations of the surname Koebe
The surname Koebe is an ancient, Germanic name with many variations, spellings, and renditions. The most common spellings are Koebe, Köbe, Koehbe, Köhbe, Köbbe, Kwbbe, Kobbe, and Kuebe, but others have also been found. It is mostly found in Germany, specifically in North Rhine-Westphalia, Brandenburg, and Lower Saxony.
The different spellings of Koebe suggest the name has its roots in several languages, including, but not limited to, German, Dutch, and Scandinavian. The Old German form of the name was "Kobe" or "Chobe," while the Dutch form was "Kobbe." The Scandinavian version is "Korbe" or "Korbi," with "Korbi" as the modern version.
Variant surnames of Koebe include Kuebe, Kobbe, Kuehne, and Kehne, due to the pronunciation of the original surname. The spelling of Kobbe, Kühne, and Kehne is most commonly found in regions of Germany and the Asian countries of China, India, and Pakistan.
Koebe is also found as surnames with similar spelling, such as Köbe, Köbbe, Kueb, and Kübbe, which are mostly found in the regions of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Schleswig-Holstein.
Other surname variations include Koeb, Köeb, Köebel, Köeben, Köebner, Kübel, Kübeker, Kübler, Küeckers, and Kürschner.
The last renditions of Koebe are those found outside of Germany and include Coebe, Koebeke, Koebke, and Kobe. These are mainly found in the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, and Sweden.
Although the surname is found in many European countries, the spelling is less common in the United States.
Famous people with the name Koebe
- Robert Koebe: German mathematician and physicist, best known for his contribution to differential geometry
- Dave Koebe: WW2 veteran and American hall of fame basketball player
- J Ann Koebe: American businessperson and advisor to companies like AT&T, Kimberlie Kloss, A-C-N and The Wrigley Company
- Alfred Koebe: German mathematician, known for his work in integral geometry and topology
- Adela Koebe: German painter and co-founder of the Munich Secession art movement
- Anna Maria Koebe: German businesswoman and owner of luxury retailers in Munich
- Emma Koebe: German actress and playwright
- Albert Koebe: Dutch molecular biologist and structural biochemist
- Joseph Koebe: American artist best known for his paintings, prints and etchings
- Leonard Koebe: German linguist and historian, known for his book on the history of the German language