Surname Küfer - Meaning and Origin
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Küfer: What does the surname Küfer mean?
The last name Küfer is German in origin and has a meaning that is associated with the trade of cooperage. A cooper is a skilled craftsperson who specializes in the making and repairing of wooden casks, barrels, and other staved containers. The word “Küfer” is derived from the Middle High German kûfer, which was derived from the Old French couvrir – meaning “to cover.”
Cooperage was a vital trade in Germany in the middle ages. Coopers were highly skilled in the craft of designing, making, and repairing containers to hold items such as beer, wine, and other beverages, as well as food and other goods. They often made casks specifically tailored for the needs of customers, such as those with triple staves to make strong containers to transport items in the ocean. The casks and barrels could be made out of different types of wood, such as oak and birch, and were often sealed with a pitch made from pine tree sap.
The family name Küfer likely indicated its members’ skill as coopers, and the name was eventually passed down through generations. Today, the name Küfer is still associated with the trade of cooperage. Some contemporary cooperages still bear this name, demonstrating the continued link between the name and this trade. Additionally, those with the last name Küfer may use the family coat of arms, which often includes a barrel or cask among other symbols.
Order DNA origin analysisKüfer: Where does the name Küfer come from?
The last name Küfer is most commonly found in Germany today. It is associated with a particular region of Germany known as Swabia, or Schwaben, which is located in the southwest corner of the country, bordered by the states of Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Bavaria. It is believed that the historical origin of the name Küfer can be traced back to this region, as it is known that surnames were traditionally established by places and people.
As Küfer is a fairly rare name, it is estimated that only a few thousand people worldwide have the surname. This number is likely distributed throughout Germany, though probably heavily concentrated still in the area of Swabia and the existing borders of the state. There are also reports of the surname appearing in other countries, including the United States, Canada, and scattered around Eastern Europe, but these occurrences are not as substantial.
It is likely that the name originated from an occupational surname. “Küfer” is a Low German term that translates to “cooper” in English, so people named Küfer were likely coopers by trade. This would explain why the surname is concentrated in Swabia, where barrels were once heavily used and produced in the area.
Variations of the surname Küfer
The surname Küfer is a German surname derived from the word 'Küferei', which means cooper in English. It is most commonly spelled 'Kuefer' in English, but it has several additional variants and spellings.
Variants Including Umlauts
The most common way to write the surname with all variations in German is 'Küfer'. It may also be spelled with umlauts over the 'u', as 'Küfer', or with extra 'e's added, as 'Küefeer', 'Küeefer', 'Küeeferr', or 'Kueeferr'.
Variants Without Umlauts
The most common English variant of the surname Küfer is 'Kuefer', without umlauts. It may also be written as 'Kueffer', 'Kufeer', 'Kufeerr', 'Kuffer', or 'Koffer'.
Surname Variants
The surname can also be found with variants of 'Küfer', such as 'Kuefler', 'Kufel', 'Kuefl', 'Kuefelin', 'Kuffel', or 'Kueffel'.
In addition, the name can also be found with its variants spelled as 'Kuffer', 'Kufferl', 'Kufferle', 'Kufler', 'Kuefler', or 'Kueffeler'.
Conclusion
The surname Küfer has many variants and spellings, both with and without umlauts, and additional surname variants related to it. The most commonly used spelling in English is 'Kuefer', but all of the variants and spellings listed above are recognized forms of the surname.
Famous people with the name Küfer
- Mortiz Küfer: a German politician and Member of the Saxon State Parliament since 2009.
- Jörg Küfer: a German novelist and author of crime and thriller novels.
- Eugen Küfer: a German composer and conductor of choir music.
- Matthias Küfer: a German actor who has appeared in several television series and films.
- Wolfgang Küfer: a German Catholic Bishop and Auxiliary Bishop of Mainz.
- Manfred Küfer: a German politician and member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
- Holger Küfer: a German police officer and former head of the Bavarian Police.
- Yvette Küfer: a German endurance athlete who has won two national championships and competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
- Hans Küfer: a German conductor and music director who has worked with numerous orchestras and opera companies.
- Gunther Küfer: a German football manager and former player who managed several Bundesliga clubs.
Other surnames
Comments or additions to the name "Küfer"
13.01.2024
My surname in the US is Cooper, dating back to Küfer ancestors.