Surname Kornhaaß - Meaning and Origin

Kornhaaß: What does the surname Kornhaaß mean?

The last name Kornhaaß is a German cognomen derived from the Middle High German word ‘Kornhos’. This personal name, which translates to ‘grain-sheath’ was popular during the Middle Ages and was used to describe a person who either cultivated or stored grain. As a surname, it most likely denoted an individual or family who were active in the grain trade or production, or were grain-storers in some capacity.

In many cases, the last name Kornhaaß was carried by individuals or families who lived in the northern and western regions of Germany. However, in some places such as Bavaria, the spelling of the name was slightly altered to Cornhaus.

The last name Kornhaaß is still common today, and can be encountered in various parts of Europe, particularly in Germany. It has even been adopted by some German communities in North and South America.

Overall, the last name Kornhaaß has its historical roots in the Middle Ages. It was initially used to denote a person who specialized in the grain trade; however, today it is used simply as a mark of identity for those who carry the name.

Kornhaaß: Where does the name Kornhaaß come from?

The last name Kornhaaß is largely confined to Germany, with some branches in other parts of Europe. Within Germany itself, it is mainly distributed in the North and Central regions, especially in Eastern and Southern Germany. More precisely, it can be found mainly in the administrative regions of Niedersachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Hessen, and Baden-Wurttemberg.

The sheer numbers indicate that Kornhaaß is quite a common surname. For instance, a 2017 survey of the German-speaking online population reported that Kornhaaß was the 437th most common last name in Germany, with a total estimated count of around 5,000 people using the surname. This is significantly lower than last names such as Müller and Schmidt, which top the list with an estimated 75,000 and 500,000 users respectively.

Despite its relatively low popularity, the Kornhaaß surname has existed in Germany since the Middle Ages, with its first recorded occurrence taking place in 1198. It is believed to have originated from the Old German words “körn” and “haß”, which together mean “hailstone” or “grain of hail”—likely referring to an ancestor who was associated with hail in some way.

Today, Kornhaaß remains a relatively common surname in Germany, due to its historical roots and the fact that it has spread to other parts of Europe such as Switzerland and Sweden. Although not as widely used as some of the more popular German surnames, Kornhaaß still enjoys a significant presence in certain parts of the country.

Variations of the surname Kornhaaß

Kornhaaß is a German surname meaning "corn-husk” or “corn-stalk". It is usually found in the regions of Germany where corn is traditionally farmed, such as Bavaria, Thuringia, Saxony and Franconia.

Variants of Kornhaaß include Kornhass, Kornhaus, Kornhausen, Kornhausl, Kornharl, Kornhassl, Kernhaus, Kernhass, Kernhausen, Kernharl and Kernhausl.

Spellings for Kornhaaß such as Kornhass, Kornhaus and Kornhausl may be found in various parts of Germany, while Kernhaus, Kernhass and Kernhausl are primarily found in Bavaria.

Surnames of the same origin include sister forms Haarhaus, Haarhass, Haarhausen, Hörnhaus, Hörnhausen and Hahnehaus. The suffix -haus was added to surnames from the end of the thirteenth century onwards, and is derived from the Middle High German term ‘hus’ for ‘house’.

In addition, some families of Kornhaaß origin created cover names to reduce confusion with other families, such as Diehl and Dörr. This was especially frequent in regions of dowry villages where many families shared a surname.

Kornhaaß is also a variant of another surname, Kornhaus, associated with the French Huguenots, who were among the first to emigrate to Germany from France in the seventeenth century. This version of the surname is more commonly found in the Rhineland-Palatinate region than in Bavaria.

In summary, the variants, spellings and surnames of the origin of Kornhaaß include Kornhass, Kornhaus, Kornhausen, Kornhausl, Kornharl, Kornhassl, Kernhaus, Kernhass, Kernhausen, Kernharl, Kernhausl, Haarhaus, Haarhass, Haarhausen, Hörnhaus, Hörnhausen, Hahnehaus, Diehl and Dörr, as well as Kornhaus found among the French Huguenots who emigrated to Germany from France in the 17th century.

Famous people with the name Kornhaaß

• Christine Kornhaaß: Christine is a German fashion designer. She had her early training in the French fashion capital, Paris, and is now a well-known name in the fashion industry, known for her avant-garde designs.
• Peter Kornhaass: Peter is an Austrian economist and professor who has authored several books, and has a successful online learning platform dedicated to economic education.
• Annika Kornhaaß: Annika is a German actor best known for her roles in the television shows 'In Your Face' and 'Schneider vs. Bax'.
• Lars Kornhaaß: Lars is a German composer and music producer who has written and produced award-winning songs for many famous pop and rock artists.
• Gisela Kornhaaß: Gisela is a German television presenter, producer, and actress, most well known for her long-time role as a co-host on the TV show 'Die Zeitmaschine'.
• Julian Kornhaaß: Julian is a German professional football player who has played for several Bundesliga teams, including Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
• Ricarda Kornhaaß: Ricarda is a German politician, currently serving as chairwoman of the Central Council of Jews in Germany.
• Wilhelm Kornhaaß: Wilhelm is a German musician and producer, most famous for producing the commercially successful musical 'The Island of the Dream.'

Other surnames

Kornhaas