Surname Kohnen - Meaning and Origin

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L. Kohnen

Kohnen: What does the surname Kohnen mean?

Kohnen is a Dutch and German surname originating from the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from a personal name, Konrad. In Dutch, the name means 'son of Konrad' indicating the first known person to bear the name was someone's son with the given name Konrad.

The surname Kohnen is most commonly found in the Dutch provinces of Limburg and North Brabant as well as in the German region of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is thought to have been common among the noble antagonists who fought in the Eighty Years' War between the Dutch Republic and the Spanish monarchy.

The Kohnen family can trace its history to the 16th century. One of its more famous members was Renier Kohnen, one of the most important administrators of the Dutch Republic. He was chancellor to the States General and was the first president of the Dutch office of East Indies company between 1605 and 1617.

Apart from a noble family history, Kohnen is also known in the arts. In the 1950s there were two popular Dutch painters with this surname: Hermanus Kohnen and Piet Kohnen. Piet was known for his modernist style of painting, which combined everyday Dutch life with surrealism. His works were exhibited throughout Europe and the United States, culminating in numerous awards during his lifetime.

Despite this, the name Kohnen remains largely unknown and not as prevalent today as it was in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Kohnen: Where does the name Kohnen come from?

The last name Kohnen is most commonly found today in Germany, with a high concentration in areas such as North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Rhineland-Palatinate. According to the German name statistics from 2019, there were a total of 7,371 people in Germany with the last name Kohnen.

Outside of Germany, the last name Kohnen can be found in the Netherlands and Belgium, with the second-highest populations of Kohnens living in the Netherlands. It also has a presence in other countries throughout Europe, such as Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. Most of these countries with the last name Kohnen have relations to Germany, suggesting that the name has been around for some time.

In the United States, people with the last name Kohnen, or variants such as Kohnen, Kohnman, or Kohn, can mainly be found in the Midwestern states such as Wisconsin given the German-American migrations in the 19th century. However, the name Kohnen is quite rare compared to other German surnames in the United States.

Overall, the last name Kohnen is most prominently found in Germany, followed by its second highest presence found in the Netherlands and other countries across Europe. In the United States, its presence is quite rare but can still be found in Midwestern states.

Variations of the surname Kohnen

The surname Kohnen has a variety of different spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin. Some of these alternate forms include Kohn, Kohne, Kohnne, Konen, Kohnner, Kohnert, and Koehnen, among others.

The most common variant of Kohnen is Kohn, which is found predominantly in Germany, the Netherlands, and other parts of Northern Europe.

Kohne is another variation on this surname, typically found in German-speaking areas, such as Poland or Austria. This form of Kohnen can be further differentiated by spelling variants such as Kohnne and Koehnen.

Konen is another variation of Kohnen found in Germany and other areas of northern Europe. This particular variant is derived from the Middle High German word “kone,” which is roughly translated to mean “child.”

Kohnert is another spelling variant found in Canada and the United States, derived from the German word “Konert,” meaning “to survive.”

Kohnner is a variation of Kohnen found mainly in the German-speaking regions of Europe, including Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. This particular form of the surname is derived from the Middle High German word “kune,” which means “man.”

No matter how it is spelled or pronounced, all of these variations of the surname Kohnen ultimately share the same origin.

Famous people with the name Kohnen

• Daniel Kohnen: Best known as the former lead singer of the German rock band Die Happy, Daniel Kohnen has achieved success with several high-charting albums and singles.
• Jürgen Kohnen: One of the most influential West German politicians of the post-war period, Kohnen has also held a number of other prominent positions, including statesman, journalist, and educator.
• Freddie Kohnen: An American musician and producer, Kohnen is best known for producing a number of popular hip-hop albums, such as Jay-Z’s Vol 2… Hard Knock Life.
• Victoria Kohnen: A British solicitor and the chief executive of national charity Shelter, Kohnen has been an integral part of the organization since 2014, advocating for the rights of those living in poverty worldwide.
• Peter Kohnen: A German professor and epidemiologist, Kohnen is the former director of the Charité: Universitätsmedizin Berlin and current director of the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics.
• Adam Kohnen: An American film producer and screenwriter, Kohnen is best known for his work on major Hollywood films such as The Dark Knight and The Town.
• Stephan Kohnen: A German entrepreneur and TV producer, Kohnen is best known for his production of the show Star Trek: New Voyages.
• Salim Kohnen: A German fashion designer and entrepreneur, Kohnen is a rising star in the fashion industry, having already designed for several star-studded red carpet events and award shows.
• Rich Kohnen: An American musician, composer, and producer, Kohnen is best known for his work with up-and-coming indie rock bands such as Finish Ticket and Panic at the Disco.
• Jack Kohnen: An American actor, director, and producer, Kohnen is probably best known for his work on the TV series Glee, which he has worked on since the show’s inception in 2009.

Other surnames

KohneKöhneKöhnelKohnemannKöhnemannKöhnes