Surname Unterkofler - Meaning and Origin

Unterkofler: What does the surname Unterkofler mean?

The last name Unterkofler is a spelling variant of the Austrian/ German surname Unterköfler. This name comes from the German word "Köfler," which means charcoal burner. This was an occupational name - it was given to individuals who made their living by burning charcoal for fuel and commerce.

In medieval Germany, which was largely rural and agrarian, different people were assigned specific surnames to mark their profession. It can even be said that occupational surnames were the most popular type given to people at this time, and “Köfler” was a common one. The “Unter” portion of the name implies that it was a subservient profession- there were Köfler who worked for major carbonization plants as well as those who worked independently.

It was not always easy to maintain the profession of a Köfler, so many families switched to other professions over time. This is why many Unterkofler families descended from charcoal burners have had their surnames changed over the years.

Today, Unterkofler is no longer a recognizable occupational name, and it is hard to trace the profession of the original bearer of the surname. However, it still stands as a reminder of the proud tradition of an important profession.

Unterkofler: Where does the name Unterkofler come from?

The last name Unterkofler is most commonly found in Austria. It is among the most popular family names in the region, ranking amongst the top 500 names inthis small country.

In the Austrian wording, Unterkofler literally translates to "below the roof." This could be a reference to its likely origin in the area near Vienna, where the name often appeared in church records from the late 1500s and early 1600s.

The Unterkofler family name has since spread to neighbouring countries, as well as to further parts of the globe. Today, Unterkofler can be found amongst immigrants from Austria in the United States, Australia, and Canada.

Some people from the Unterkofler line have also begun to settle in Germany, Switzerland, and other parts of Europe. Due to the Unterkofler's widespread migration and international prevalence, the name can now be found in some parts of almost every continent.

In Austria, the last name Unterkofler is still relatively common, and there are a number of families that have lived in the region for hundreds of years. Many people from the Unterkofler line still live in and around Vienna, as well as in other parts of Austria, such as Salzburg and Tirol.

Overall, the last name Unterkofler is found throughout the world today, with most of its largest populations found in Austria, the United States, and other countries.

Variations of the surname Unterkofler

The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Unterkofler include Unterkhofler, Untherkofler, Untherkoefler, Unterköfler, Unterköffler, Unterkofer, Unterköffer, Unterköfler, and Unterköffl. All of these surnames derive from an Austrian and German place name which was derived from the Middle High German term Kuffler, which was a male name given to one who worked in or made wagons.

The spelling and surname forms of Unterkofler are the most frequent forms of this surname. The alternate spellings and surnames are used in different regions in Austria as well as Germany, Switzerland, and Hungary. This surname was primarily found in the areas of Austria known as Styria, Carinthia, Bohemia, and Moravia. There are other variations which include Untherköfler, Untherkoefler, Unterkhofler, and Untherköfler.

The Unterkofler form of the surname can be even further broken down into regional variations. In Austria, Unterköfler was used in the region of Styria, Unterköffer was used in Carinthia, and Unterköffl was used in Bohemia. Unterkhöfler and Unterkhofler were also found in the central and northern regions of Germany.

The Unterkofler surname and its various forms were commonly found among many ethnic groups, including Jews from Austria and Germany as well as a smaller population of Romanians and Slovaks, who had migrated to Germany. Many Unterkoflers also emigrated to other parts of Europe, including Italy, Russia, Poland, and England, during the time of the Austro-Prussian War and World War I and II.

Famous people with the name Unterkofler

• Lothar Unterkofler: Austrian alpine ski racer and Olympic bronze medalist in slalom in 2002.
• Kurt Unterkofler: Austrian ski mountaineer and long-distance runner.
• Gerhard Unterkofler: former Austrian luger who competed in the 1976 and 1980 Winter Olympics.
• Friedrich Unterkofler: Austrian physicist and chemist born in 1803.
• Anton Unterkofler: Austrian sculptor, installation artist and professor at University of Applied Arts Vienna.
• Kurt Waldemar Unterkofler: "famous German SS leader during World War II".
• Johann Unterkofler: Austrian historian from Salzburg.
• Magdalena Unterkofler: Austrian film producer.
• Eva Unterkofler: Austrian film director, producer, screenwriter and costume designer.
• Johannes Unterkofler: Austrian author and musician.

Other surnames

Unterkoffler