Surname Kohlmayer - Meaning and Origin

Kohlmayer: What does the surname Kohlmayer mean?

The last name Kohlmayer originates from southern and central Europe. It is a combination of two Germanic words, "kohl" meaning “coal” and “mayer” meaning “mayor” or “master”. This could indicate a person whose job was to collect coal taxes or a person who was in charge of a coal mine.

The surname is also found in Slovenia, Croatia, Poland, and other parts of central Europe. Depending on the specific region, the name could be different spellings such as Köhlmayer, Kohlmayer, and Köhlmair.

Kohlmayer came to prominence in the late Middle Ages in Germany. In most cases, the surname is associated to families living in Bavaria, Austria, and Bohemia. During the Middle Ages, people with the Kohlmayer surname were found to be merchants, brewers, blacksmiths, and even brewers.

Today, those with the Kohlmayer last name are spread out all around the world. It could be a reflection of the family’s history of migration to different countries, likely to escape political and religious persecution. Throughout the centuries, many have married into Scandinavian, Slavic, and Jewish families, further diluting the origins of the Kohlmayer last name and its meaning in different countries.

Kohlmayer: Where does the name Kohlmayer come from?

The last name Kohlmayer can be found primarily in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is an occupational name, derived from the old Germanic words “kol” meaning “charcoal” and “maien” meaning “trade”, suggesting that the original bearer of the name was a charcoal trader.

Today, the last name is most common in Germany. Records show that it is most frequently found in the south-western states of Baden-Wurttemburg, Bavaria and Rhineland-Palatinate as well as in the north-eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

In the past century, many German-speaking emigrants took the name with them to different parts of Europe, North America and Australasia. In the United States, the most prominent states where the name is most common are Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and California.

The name is not unique to Germany – it can also be found in countries outside of Europe. For instance, in the small Central American country of Belize, migration records indicate that the name is among the country’s most common.

In the 21st century, the name Kohlmayer can be found in all parts of the world, although the frequency changes from country to country and region to region. Despite its widespread distribution, it remains strongly associated with the original homeland of its bearers – Germany.

Variations of the surname Kohlmayer

Kohlmayer is an anglicised version of the German surname Kohlmeier, which is a derivative from the Middle High German word ‘kolmeer’, meaning ‘coal maker’. The original form of the surname is usually spelt Kohlmeier, as it is in its original German form. However, sometimes the surname takes on a variety of other spellings.

Alternative spellings of Kohlmayer include Kalehmeier, Kallmeyer, Collmeyer, Colmeire, Coolmeyer, and Coolmeire. Aside from the variants from Germany, the spelling of the surname also migrated to different countries such as Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. There, the surname can be seen as Kolmayer, Kollmeyer, Kollmaier, and Kollmeijer.

In addition, English-speaking countries have their own share of variants of the surname. In the US, the variations of Kohlmayer include Kolehmayor, Kolehmoer, Kolemier, and Kolemeyer, among others. Another one of the most common forms is Calameier, which was derived from the original spelling in Germany.

The variants of the surname Kohlmayer are usually a direct or indirect reflection of how the name has evolved over the centuries in different countries. In some cases, the spelling has completely changed as a result of compromise between languages, which can make it difficult to trace the origins of some surnames. To sum it up, the various spellings, variants, and surnames of Kohlmayer are a testimony to how the surname has changed, adapted, and spread over the years.

Famous people with the name Kohlmayer

• Fabian Kohlmayer: Austrian tennis player who won the ATP Challenger event the Sparkassen Open in 2014 and the ITF World Tour event in Italy in 2009.
• Andi Kohlmayer: Austrian film producer and director who has directed several award-winning short films.
• Isabella Kohlmayer: German singer and actress, best known for her 2016 single “Dreams Bought in a Bottle”.
• Kurt Kohlmayer: Austrian clarinetist and conductor, most famous for his interpretation of Beethoven's symphonies.
• Irene Kohlmayer: Swiss opera singer who has been performing across Europe for the past 40 years.
• Florian Kohlmayer: German violinist who was a finalist of the Texel International Music Competition in 2014.
• Steffen Kohlmayer: German interior designer who has created the designs for multiple exclusive hotels and resorts around the world.
• Marielle Kohlmayer: Venezuelan fashion designer who is known for her colorful and eclectic designs.
• Stephan Kohlmayer: Austrian ski jumper who participated in three Olympic Games and won several World Cup events.
• Pius Kohlmayer: Swiss painter from Zurich who is known for his brightly colored abstract artworks.

Other surnames

Kohlmayr