Surname Kümmerlein - Meaning and Origin
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Kümmerlein: What does the surname Kümmerlein mean?
The last name Kümmerlein is a German surname, originating from the Middle High German word ‘Kümmer’, meaning "care or worry". As such, the name can metaphorically be translated to mean ‘small worries’ or ‘little cares’.
The surname would be most frequently found in areas and sectors of Germany with strong links to Germanic culture and heritage. It likely refers to people residing in or originating from those regions.
The spelling of the name varies widely, with some forms including: Kümmerle, Kummerling, Comerling, Kommerling, Kömmerling and Kümmerling.
The literal meaning of the surname is likely to reflect the ancestral occupation or way of life of its original holders and could have been a byname for a compassionate, caring or thoughtful individual. Alternatively, it could have also served as a nickname for an individual who was frequently troubled by minor concerns or complaints.
In other cases, the name may have derived from a superficial physical or personality trait exhibited by the original bearer, such as having a small or child-like size or demeanor.
Despite its origins, today the surname Kümmerlein serves as a unique and fitting identity for modern holders; a reminder of care and compassion that deserves to be cultivated in our lives and homes.
Order DNA origin analysisKümmerlein: Where does the name Kümmerlein come from?
The surname Kümmerlein is most commonly found in Germany, where it originated. It is thought to derive from the Germanized version of a Slovenian surname that came to Germany with settlers from former Yugoslavia. In contemporary Germany, the surname is especially common in northwest Germany and in the region along the Rhine River to Berlin.
Kümmerlein can also be found among German-speaking Swiss, who came to Switzerland from Germany in the 18th and 19th centuries. The name has also spread to other parts of Europe, such as the Netherlands, Austria, and Scandinavia. There are smaller pockets of the Kümmerlein family name in Canada, the United States, and Australia.
The Kümmerlein surname is especially relevant in Germany due to its popularity among local families. An analysis by forename.de in 2016 found that of the top seven surnames in Germany, three included variations of the Kümmerlein: Kümmel, Kummer, and Kümpel. As of 2017, the surname was estimated to have over 26,000 bearers in Germany alone.
There are also many well-known people who bear the name Kümmerlein, including Wilhelm Kümmerlein, a leading West German researcher of urban and architectural history; Barbara Kümmerlein, a German TV presenter and author; Dieter Kümmerlein, a German professor of economics; and Joachim Kümmerlein, a physicist and professor at the Technische Universität München.
Overall, the last name Kümmerlein is still relatively popular in Germany and in other parts of Europe and the world. It has a long history, as well as numerous well-known bearers, indicating the surname’s long-standing significance in German families.
Variations of the surname Kümmerlein
The surname Kümmerlein is also known by multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant spellings of the name Kümmerlein are Kummerlein, Kümmel, Kumel, Kuemmle, Kummel, Kommemle, Kommel, Kömmel, Kemmerer, Kömmerlein, Kaimerlein, Kaemmerer, Käemmerer, Kemmerling, Kämmerer, Körner, Kranerich, Kranrich, Konerich and Könerich.
Another variant of the surname Kümmerlein is Kummerly, which originated in the 16th century in southwestern Germany and directly translates to "careful". Originally, this surname was an occupational name describing a tradesman or an artisan. It was normally used to describe a smith or metalsmith. Additionally, the surname Kümmerly has derivatives such as Kummerly, Kummerli, Kummerle and Kummel.
The same origin-surname, Kümmerlein, may also be found with many variations of spelling across multiple countries. In the United States, the surname Kümmerlein can also be found spelled as Kössmele, Kössmel or Kössl. In the United Kingdom, the most common spelling of the name is Kümmerly.
In Germany, the surname Kümmerlein is found spelled as Kömmler or Kömmling. The Dutch spelling of the surname Kümmerlein is Kömmel, while the Swedish spelling is Kämmerly, and in Norway and Denmark, the spelling is Kömmerley.
The surname Kümmerlein has been found in Austria since the 14th century. During that time, the surname was most commonly spelled as Kömerlein. The modern-day equivalent of this surname is Kämmerlein.
Overall, there are many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Kümmerlein, each with its own unique etymology and history. The variations of the name are thought to have been developed over time as people migrated internationally and adapted their surnames to different languages and regions.
Famous people with the name Kümmerlein
- Johanna Kümmerlein: former German professional volleyball player
- Balthasar Kümmerlein: theologian of the Counter-Reformation
- Catharina Kümmerlein: German Baroque era painter
- Leonhard Kümmerlein: German mathematician in the late fifteenth century
- Christoph Kümmerlein: German painter active in mid-seventeenth century
- Bela Kümmerlein: Hungarian politician in the nineteenth century
- Max Kümmerlein: Swiss entomologist who studied diptera in the late nineteenth century
- Meta Kümmerlein: German landscape painter active during the 1920s
- Siemen Kümmerlein: German football goalkeeper in the 1930s
- Uta Kümmerlein: German alpine skier in the 1980s