Surname Kueffner - Meaning and Origin
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Kueffner: What does the surname Kueffner mean?
The last name Kueffner is derived from the German word "Kufener", which is an archaic term that can be translated to signify a "maker of barrels". This is a reference to a person who made or repaired containers such as barrels and casks, either for wine, beer, or other goods. Therefore, historically, Kueffner was an occupational surname belonging to a maker of such containers.
Today, there are numerous variations of the name Kueffner, including Kuefner, Keufner, Kiefner, Kueffner, Kefner, and Kuifner, all deriving from the same German word. It has traditionally been a popular surname in Germany and Austria, particularly in the rural regions of those countries. Recently, the name has been increasingly prevalent in the United States and Canada, largely as a result of German and Austrian immigrants to those countries.
Kueffner is generally believed to have come from the Middle High German term “koufenere”, which evolved from the early Germanic term “kuofamaira”. The root of the name is “kuof”, which in turn was derived from the Latin “cuva”, meaning barrel or cask. The suffix “er” was added to this term to denote an individual who makes or repairs barrels. As such, Kueffner is an occupational surname given to someone who was employed in the profession of barrel making and repair.
Order DNA origin analysisKueffner: Where does the name Kueffner come from?
The last name Kueffner is believed to be an ancestral name originating in Germany. Records show that the Kueffner family has been widespread throughout Germany and the Low Countries since the 15th century. Today the surname Kueffner is still common in the German-speaking countries like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also seen in the bordering countries of Poland and the Czech Republic.
In the United States, the last name Kueffner is most common in states with large German immigrant populations such as Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and Illinois. The German-Americans in these states have been more likely to preserve their ancestral surname than other immigrant populations, which explains why the last name Kueffner is most commonly found in the United States in these areas.
The surname Kueffner is also found in other countries around the world. In countries like Canada, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Venezuela, Mexico, and the United Kingdom, German immigrants have all carried the family name Kueffner with them while settling in their new homes.
Kueffner is a surname which has withstood the test of time and will likely continue to be a common last name in both Germany and in countries around the world for many years to come.
Variations of the surname Kueffner
The surname Kueffner is derived from the Middle High German words küfer (cooper) and kufner (barrel maker or woodturner). This surname is also found in various variants and spellings throughout Europe, including Kuffer, Kufferin, Kufferlein, Kufner, Kuffner, Koffner, Koffer, Koffner and Kuffeter.
In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the common spelling is Kueffner. In many cases, immigrants to the United States from these countries spelled the name Kuffner or Kufferin. In other parts of Europe, including the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland, the spelling Kuffer is more common.
In the United Kingdom, the spelling keuffer, occurerring in church records appears to have been adopted in many parts of the country, while in the United States the spelling Kauffman has become the most common form. In Poland the variant Kufel is found, while in Hungary, a variant of the Kueffner surname is known as Kofler.
The history of the surname suggests that it was primarily used by people involved in the woodturning and barrel-making trades. In some parts of Europe, it is believed to have been used as an occupational surname for all types of coopers. Over the centuries, however, this surname has also been adopted by people in other trades and professions, such as farmers, merchants and miners.
Famous people with the name Kueffner
- Hope Kueffner, American figure skater
- Peter Kueffner, German politician
- Jochen Kueffner, German film editor
- Arnold Kueffner, American football coach
- Helmut Kueffner, German World War II U-boat commander
- John Kueffner, American film and television composer
- Chuck Kueffner, American country music artist
- August Kueffner, Austrian composer
- Gerhard Kueffner, German chess master
- Michael Kueffner, German painter and printmaker
- Charles Kueffner, American rower
- Wolfgang Kueffner, German soccer player
- Joe Kueffner, English cricketer
- Jack Kueffner, American football player
- Julius Kueffner, German physicist and philosopher
- Joanne Kueffner, American painter
- Alfons Kueffner, German writer
- Steve Kueffner, American bassist