Surname Kohls - Meaning and Origin
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Kohls: What does the surname Kohls mean?
The last name Kohls is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word “kol”, meaning “coal”. As such, the name is believed to have been initially used to denote an individual who worked with coal. Over time, the surname began to be used as an occupational descriptor. It was also used as a patronymic surname, derived from a person’s father’s name or a given name beginning with the German element “kol”.
The earliest recorded use of the Kohls surname in Germany dates back to the 16th century, when it was first documented in 1587 in the town of Baden-Baden. Since then, its usage has spread throughout Germany and other parts of the world. Today, the surname Kohls is most commonly found in Germany, the United States, Canada, and Scandinavia.
In modern times, the surname Kohls is associated with many different people. It has been carried by entrepreneurs, politicians, entrepreneurs, prominent athletes, and members of the armed forces. It is also the surname of many notable figures in popular culture, including American football player Aaron Kohls, race car driver Ryan Kohls, and the German-born fashion designer Petra Kohls.
Ultimately, the surname Kohls is a powerful testament to its German roots and the hardworking individuals who bore it. It continues to carry meaning wherever it is found, from its days as an occupational descriptor to its modern-day usage in popular culture.
Order DNA origin analysisKohls: Where does the name Kohls come from?
The last name Kohls is a German surname. It is most prevalent in Germany today, with a small presence in the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Norway.
In Germany, it is most concentrated in Bavaria, where it ranks in the top 200 surnames, making it more common there than many other German surnames. It is also well-represented in the surrounding states of Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, and North Rhine-Westphalia.
In the United States, Kohls is most commonly found in Wisconsin, where it is among the top 1,000 most common surnames. It is also found in other Midwest states such as Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota.
Kohls is still in use as a given name in the United Kingdom, in particular in Scotland, and there are some examples of the name being used by Danish and Norwegian families. Overall, it is a relatively uncommon surname, not found widely in many parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Kohls
The surname Kohls is of Germanic origin and has several alternative spelling and related surnames. Some similar surnames include Köels, Köhl, Köhls, Köhlmey, Köhne, Köhnen, Köhmann, Köhneke, Köhlenberg, Köhlquist, Köhnemann and Köhlinger.
Kohls (sometimes spelled Köels) is thought to be derived from the Middle High German word keul (meaning staff), or from the Old High German word khil, which means channel or riverbed. It is believed to have been a topographical surname originally given to people who lived near a stream or channel.
The surname Kohls is sometimes spelled Köele, Köel, Köely, Köhey and Köhell, and are all derived from the Old High German word “kehle” meaning throat. This was most likely a nickname given to someone who had a particular feature or physical characteristic that others noticed, such as a throat that was especially long or prominent.
Köhl is an old spelling for the surname Kohls, and is thought to have evolved from the Germanic word “gohol”, which described a round hill or mound. This was most likely a topographical surname given to people who were living or working on a particular hill or mound.
Köhls is thought to originate from the Low German word “köhl”, which means a person who is considered to wise or prudent in their opinions and actions. This was an occupational surname given to wise counselors or advisors.
Köhlmey is derived from the Middle Low German word “külme”, which means a cool, damp meadow where fish were caught. This was likely an occupational name given to people who worked in the fishing industry.
Overall, the surname Kohls has evolved through the centuries, with its various variant spellings and related surnames all deriving from its Germanic roots.
Famous people with the name Kohls
- Albert Kohls: American zoologist and parasitologist who specialised in trematodes, necklaces and cestodes.
- Anne Kohls: American politician, serving as a State Representative of Wisconsin for the 99th Assembly District since 2013.
- Axel Kohls: German football manager who was in charge of several clubs in the Bundesliga, 2nd Bundesliga and 3rd Liga.
- Elisabeth Kohls: German TV host and presenter, best known for her works on RTL Television.
- Frederikus Cornelius Kohls: South African pastor, theologian and church historian in the Reformed Church in South Africa.
- Gertrudis Kohls: German alpinist who was part of the first confirmed German climbing team on the Everest southeast face in 1976.
- Johann Georg Kohls: German painter and graphic artist known for his pastoral landscapes and views of historic cities.
- John Kohls: American politician, elected as State Representative of Wisconsin for the 59th Assembly District in 2014.
- Juergen Kohls: German politician who was the mayor of Hamburg for several years between 1967 and 1971.
- Karl Kohls: German cavalry officer and equestrian who was awarded the Prussian Order of the Red Eagle and Iron Cross.