Surname Kirchoff - Meaning and Origin

Kirchoff: What does the surname Kirchoff mean?

Kirchoff is a German surname that originated from the Old German word ‘kirite’ which means church. It was originally used to indicate someone who had a close association with a church or a clergyman. The prefix ‘Kir’ is found in many German surnames and means “church”.

The development of the earliest Kirchoff surnames was likely due to a variety of reasons. Some early use of the name recorded in German documents can be traced back to religious affiliations and occupations. If a man served as a priest or pastor, he was likely given this name; if a man worked at or owned a church, he could also be given the Kirchoff surname.

The Kirchoff family may have also originated from a place with a similar name, such as Kirchheim. This was often used to denote that someone had resided in a particular place associated with the church, and Kirchhoff could also be given to children who were christened in that same church.

In some cases, Kirchhoff is an abbreviated version of the longer family name ‘Kirchhoffer’. It is thought that the original family who owned the estate and land at the source of the name was known as the Kirchhoffers, and through time this was shortened to Kirchoff.

The Kirchoff surname has survived hundreds of years and is still in use today. It is used frequently throughout Germany and has spread to many other countries as well. Members of the Kirchoff family can be found all over the word, with many prominent descendants holding positions of leadership in business, politics and other areas.

Kirchoff: Where does the name Kirchoff come from?

The surname Kirchoff is commonly found throughout the United States and Canada today. It has strong German roots, becoming more popularized in American and Canadian culture after immigrants from Germany and Austria arrived to the United States during the 1700s and 1800s.

The surname can also be found throughout Central and Eastern Europe. It was likely adopted from the high German word “Kirchhof” meaning a churchyard. It is also known to be found in France, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, and Hungary.

The first known documentation of the Kirchoff surname occurred in Thuringia, Germany around the year 1241 when Conrad de kircheve showed up as a witness in a charters document.

Currently, the frequency of the surname Kirchoff is highest in Germany, followed by the United States and Austria. The most common professions taken on by those with the last name were owners of small businesses, housewives, farmers, and day laborers.

Today, the surname Kirchoff is found worldwide with many variants including Kirchhoff, Kircheisen, Kircher, Kirchenhoff, and Kürchhof. It continues to be most commonly found within the United States, Germany, Austria, and Canada.

Variations of the surname Kirchoff

The surname Kirchoff is a German patronymic surname, stemming from the given name of Kirch, a name derived from the German term for church. Variants of the surname Kirchoff include Kirchhof, Kirchhoff, Kircher, Kirchert, Kirchner, and others.

Kircher is a variant of Kirchoff, but can also be spelled as Kirchner, Kercher, Kirchert, Kirchhofer, Kirchof and Kirchoffen. This variant of the surname has its origins in Saxony and Bavaria.

Kirchhoff is another variant spelling of Kirchoff and is especially common in northern Germany. Other spellings of this variant are Kerchoff, Kerchhof, and Kerchhove.

Kirchhofer is another common variant. This spelling has its origins in Switzerland and can also be spelled as Kerchhofer, Kerchhoff, and Kirchoffer.

Kirchner is related to Kirchoff but has its origins in Bavaria and the Tyrol region on the Austrian-Italian border. This spelling can also be seen as Kirchnern, Kirchners, Kirchnerin, Kirchnerser, Kerchning and Kerchnerin.

Finally, the spelling Kirchoffen is another variant related to Kirchoff and is usually found in Saxony. The spellings Kirchenoffen and Kerchoffen are two other related spellings used in the same region.

Famous people with the name Kirchoff

• Robert Kirchoff: American actor and voice actor best known for the voice ofThe Joker in Batman: The Animated Series.
• August Kirchoff: German botanist and pharmacologist whose work shaped the foundations of modern plant physiology.
• Emil Kirchhoff: German physicist and mathematician who worked in both fields of physics and optics.
• Christian G. Kirchhoff: American nuclear and particle physicist, and experimental test reactor designer.
• Johann Kirchhoff: German microbiologist who was known for his research on fermentation.
• Heinrich Kirchhoff: German physicist who did important work on electrical networks.
• Gustav Kirchhoff: German physicist and mathematician who developed idea of the thermodynamic cycle, and studied black-body radiation.
• Fritz Kirchhoff: German Olympic sailor who participated in the 1948 London Olympics.
• Lucy Kirchhoff: American stage and film actress best known for her acting in the 1930s and 40s.
• David Kirchhoff: American businessman and the former chief executive officer of Weight Watchers International.

Other surnames

Kirchof