Surname Koene - Meaning and Origin
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Koene: What does the surname Koene mean?
The last name Koene is an old Dutch surname, originating in the Netherlands or Belgium. It is derived from the Dutch word koen, which means brave, bold, or daring. This is typically thought to be indicative of a personality trait associated with someone with this surname.
The earliest documented use of the last name Koene is from 1536, when an individual by the same name was born in Prees, currently located in Germany. Other records of the name originate in the Netherlandica city of Ellerd.
Today, the last name Koene is still relatively common in the region of the Netherlands, with over 68,000 people using the surname. It is also found across the globe in various countries, including Germany, the United States, and Canada.
Koene is a patronymic surname, which is typically derived from the first name of a father, and was historically used to indicate a direct line of descent from the paternal line. This is why the surname often appears alongside variations of first names, such as Coen (short for Coenraad), Koenemans, Koene, Koenen, and Koenes.
Overall, the last name Koene is associated with a spirit of daring and bravery and has a long history in the Netherlands and beyond.
Order DNA origin analysisKoene: Where does the name Koene come from?
The last name Koene (also spelled Köne) is common today mainly in the Netherlands. It is one of the most common surnames in the Netherlands, with more than 74,000 people bearing the name as of 2018. The last name can also be found in German-speaking countries, Ireland, Belgium, and England.
The origin of the last name has been traced back to the Middle Ages when it was a location-based name. At that time, many people took the name of their birthplace or the area they lived in. In Dutch, "Koene" means "counsel" or "advice". The original spelling was most likely Koen or Köen, but over time the spelling changed to what we see today.
The earliest known record of someone bearing the last name Koene was in 1455 when Dirck Dirck Willemsz Koen was mentioned in Amsterdam. From there, the surname spread to other parts of the Netherlands, and then eventually to other countries as well.
In modern times, the last name Koene is still most commonly associated with the Netherlands. It is estimated that nearly 75,000 people with that name reside in the Netherlands, with a further estimated 3000 bearing that name in other countries.
Variations of the surname Koene
The surname Koene is a Dutch and Low German patronymic surname, which is derived from the personal name Koen - the Low German variant of the name Conrad. Various spellings and related surnames of the same origin are Konen, Koonen, Koning, Koenig, Konig, Koningh, Koenigin, Koening, Konigin, Koennig, Konnig, Koenigs, König, Konigs, Koningen, Koeninger, and Kauenhoven.
In many cases, the spelling and variant forms of Koene originated from the 17th century, when spelling was not yet standardized. This is seen in the various spellings that arose from people's various interpretations of the sound of a name, for example Koningh is derived from spoken Koening. The variants Koenigin and Konigin both come from the feminine form of the name, while Koene, Koonen, and Konen are all derived from the male form.
The surname Koene is also found as a less common variant form of the Scandinavian surname Kven. Kven is derived from the Norse word kvenn, which means woman, and is usually found in the Swedish variant form, Kvén.
The surname Koene is most often found in the Netherlands, Germany, and other parts of Northern Europe, particularly Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Many variants and related surnames have also spread to the United States of America, Canada, and Australia.
Famous people with the name Koene
- Robin van Koene: Dutch footballer who plays for PEC Zwolle and the Dutch national team.
- Jari Koene: Dutch water polo player who competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics for the Netherlands.
- Cees de Koene: Dutch cycling coach who trained many world champions, including Marianne Vos and Theo Bos.
- Willy Koene: Dutch football manager and coach who worked with teams like PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord Rotterdam and the Dutch national team.
- Ge Kuys Koene: Dutch submarine commander who led the Royal Netherlands Navy in several successful operations during World War II.
- Bob Koene: Former CEO of the Dutch shipping company Cory Brothers, who led the firm from 1985 to 2006.
- Wilfried van Koene: Dutch mathematician who has contributed to fields such as algebra, arithmetic and topology.
- Joost Koene: Dutch composer and conductor who has composed music for several films and has been a permanent figure in Dutch musical theatre.
- Fruin Koene: Dutch sculptor and modern artist known for her expressive sculptures and installations.
- Pieter van Koene: Dutch windmill builder who built some of the finest windmills in the country.