Surname Kehler - Meaning and Origin
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Kehler: What does the surname Kehler mean?
Kehler is a surname of German origin. The name is believed to be derived from "Kehl", a term that refers to someone who lived in or near a narrow or mountain pass. It may also be topographic for someone who inhabited by a ridged or narrow track. Over time, such geographic names often became surnames to identify the origin or location of a family. It's important to note that surnames can evolve and change in spelling and meaning over centuries and across regions, so Kehler may have additional interpretations depending on its context within specific family histories.
Order DNA origin analysisKehler: Where does the name Kehler come from?
The surname Kehler traces its roots back to Germany and is of occupational origin. It derives from the Middle High German word "kehle" meaning a "gutter" or "ditch", which suggests that the original bearers of the surname were likely involved in digging ditches or they lived in a place distinguished by a notable ditch or trench.
Contrary to many other surnames that are widespread, Kehler is quite rare. However, it is most prevalent in the United States, with a substantial number in Canada as well. The largest concentration is found in Manitoba, Canada, due to a group of German migrants who settled there in the past.
Despite this, the overall global footprint of the surname remains modest, thus finding a Kehler outside of Canada, the USA or Germany is quite exceptional. As a result, it is likely that any Kehlers found in countries other than these can trace their lineage back to these regions due to emigration over time.
Variations of the surname Kehler
The surname Kehler is of German origin. Variants of this last name can be seen based on regional differences, pronunciation, translation, or even personal preferences. This results in a variety of spellings that retain a similar phonetic or symbolic meaning. Some alternatives include Kepler, Keehler, Kehler, Kehler, Keeler, and Kohler.
Additionally, Kähler is a variation with an umlaut, which is common in the German language. Sometimes people anglicize these names, dropping umlauts and changing 'ä' to 'e', therefore, Kähler becomes Kehler or Keeler.
In the historical background, surnames often were derived from a progenitor's occupation. Kehler is likely derived from the German term 'kehle' which means 'throat' and could have been used for someone who was a singer or crier.
Other possibilities could be variations of the surname through marriage, or potentially spelling errors in immigration or census records. These can lead to a multitude of potential spellings for a surname.
Still, tracing back genealogy could be complex due to these diversities. Therefore, it's common practice to explore all possible name variations while researching family history.
Famous people with the name Kehler
- Daniel Kehler: Former back-up goaltender for the Detroit Red Wings and current goaltending coach for the Toronto Marlies.
- Hugo Kehler: 19th-century German photographer.
- David Kehler: Co-founder of Crooked Tree Creative, a Kansas City film and photography studio.
- Michael Kehler: Canadian political scientist and professor at the University of Calgary.
- David Kehler: Actor best known for roles in feature films such as The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and Inception.
- Ingo Kehler: Former Swiss goalkeeper who made 77 appearances for the national team.
- Siobhan Kehler: Popular Canadian journalist and newscaster.
- Tyler Kehler: Professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Kalamazoo Wings in the ECHL.
- Steve Kehler: retired professional motorcross racer who competed in the AMA Supercross racing series.
- Sterling Kehler: Well-known Canadian folk singer and songwriter.