Surname Keltner - Meaning and Origin
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Keltner: What does the surname Keltner mean?
The surname Keltner is of German origin and is derived from the personal name Keltenahe. The personal name Keltenahe is formed from the elements kelt, meaning “Gaul” or “Gaulish man”, and heim, meaning “home, place of origin”.
The use of the surname Keltner may have arisen when people took the name of their father or ancestor as their own surname. In Germany, surnames eventually became hereditary as the number of people with the same given name increased. This created a greater need for identification and the development of hereditary surnames.
The name Keltner became particularly common in areas of Germany where there was a large population of Gauls and Celts. Keltner is especially common in Germany and Austria, and is also found in the US and Canada among those who have German ancestry. Today, Keltner is estimated to be the 2,527th most common last name in the world.
The surname Keltner has existed for centuries and is an old Germanic name. As an ancestral name, it has been passed down from father to son for many generations. Keltner is a unique last name with roots in Germanic culture and history.
Order DNA origin analysisKeltner: Where does the name Keltner come from?
The last name Keltner is most commonly found in Germany and the United States today. In Germany, Keltner is most strongly concentrated in Bavaria, particularly around Hohenburg, Titting, Lohr and Amberg. People with the Keltner surname are also found in the neighboring countries of Austria and Czech Republic.
Within the United States, Keltner is found in many states. Challis County in Idaho has seen the highest concentration of Keltner last names, followed by Harrison County in West Virginia. Other regions in the US that have seen an influx of Keltner family names include Ohio, Maryland, Iowa, Tennessee, and California.
Overall, the last name Keltner has Germanic roots. This is reflected in the importance of Bavaria, Austria and the Czech Republic within its regions of origin. In many cases, it is believed that the Keltner name has been carried through generations of the same family, such as from father to son. It is also possible for Keltner to be a patronymic name, derived from a person’s father. Additionally, Keltner could have originated as a habitation name, referring to someone who lived in or near a keltner’s house.
Variations of the surname Keltner
Variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Keltner may include Kelter, Kalter, Kaltner, Kelterer, Keltnerne, and Keltoner. However, it should be noted that while these surnames may all share the root of Keltner, they may have originated from different locations and thus lead to different family lines.
Keltner is an occupational surname of German origin which refers to a cooper, or a person who made or repaired containers such as barrels, pails, and buckets from oak, willow or other woods. In German, Keltner translates to mean ‘wooden maker’ or ‘woodworker’. The name likely originated from a locational source, indicating that the original bearer of the name lived in a location, such as a larger city, in which the materials necessary to construct barrels and other wooden containers were readily available.
The various spellings of Keltner are likely a result of the various dialects and languages spoken across various European countries, as well as due to migratory patterns. The surname could have been changed to fit the languages and customs in the new country that people moved to. For example, Kaltner may be a result of Germanic influence in dialects spoken in the Netherlands and the Scandinavian countries, while Kelter may be a result of the influence of languages of the British Isles.
The extent of the spread of the surname Keltner can be traced through records such as birth and marriage certificates as well as other available documents such as passenger lists. The changing spelling of this surname could be traced through multiple shared family lines, allowing the family history to be traced despite geographical relocations.
Famous people with the name Keltner
- Jared Keltner, American professional wrestler
- John Keltner, American professional baseball player
- David Keltner, American professional baseball player
- Monte Keltner, American professional baseball player
- Kyle Keltner, American professional football player
- Chad Keltner, American professional basketball player
- Ryan Keltner, American professional soccer player
- Jack Keltner, American professional lacrosse player
- Christina Keltner, German actress
- Werner Keltner, former East German Cross Country Skier
- Wendy Keltner, American yoga instructor and wellness coach
- Will Keltner, American stand-up comedian
- Walter Keltner, German atmospheric physicist
- Bob Keltner, American businessman and philanthropist
- David Keltner, American graphic designer and artist
- David Keltner, artist and curator known for his contributions to the Chinese contemporary art movement
- James Keltner, American musician and producer
- Karl Keltner, German-born American World War I ace pilot
- Kelly Keltner, American playwright and sculptor
- Patrick Keltner, English film, television, and theater actor