Surname Koestings - Meaning and Origin
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Koestings: What does the surname Koestings mean?
The last name Koestings is of Germanic origin. It is a variation of the name Kosting, an occupational name referring to a tenant farmer or someone who worked in a tavern. In the Middle Ages, people who adequately managed a tenants’ crop field and livestock were entrusted with greater responsibility, such as overseeing rent collection from other tenants or supervising the household’s production. In return, the Kosting was granted a fee or portion of the production.
The spelling of the last name evolved over time, eventually becoming Koestings. In some cases, the spelling was changed to reflect the local language or dialect, or it may have been changed intentionally - either in a show of independence or to indicate a familial connection to someone of a higher social class.
The name Koestings is primarily found in Germany, as well as countries to which German immigrants relocated (Austria, Switzerland, the U.S., Canada, Australia). In the U.S., the name Koestings is primarily found in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. It is believed that the name was among those brought to America by Pennsylvania Dutch immigrants, who began arriving in the 1680s.
In modern times, those who bear the Koestings last name are typically of German descent. It is a rare name, and most who still bear it are thought to be descended from a single lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisKoestings: Where does the name Koestings come from?
The last name Koestings is most commonly found in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands, Germany, and France. The name is believed to have evolved from the name "Köstens" which is derived from Middle Low German. Today, the name can still be found predominately in its original countries of origin, though there are smaller concentrations of people with the name found within Eastern Europe, such as Estonia and Poland as well.
In the Netherlands, the name can be found mainly in the province of Limburg. The name is relatively common in Limburg, with 9,322 people in the Netherlands being recorded with this last name in the 2008 national census. The city of Roermond is known to have the highest density of people with the name in the country.
Outside of mainland Europe, the name can also be found in both North and South America, Australia, and New Zealand. While the concentration of people with this name is much lower in these countries (relative to the European countries), it can still be found in pockets here and there. In the United States, for example, the name is mostly concentrated in states where there is a high Dutch population, such as Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
Overall, the Koestings name is still common today, especially in its country of origin--the Netherlands. Though the name can still be found outside of Europe, it is generally rarer than in the countries from which it originated.
Variations of the surname Koestings
The Koestings surname has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Koestinger, Koestel, Koestlein, Kesting, Kestinger, Kestenbach, Kestel, Kestenacher, Kostenbach, Kostenstein, and Kostenbacher.
Koestinger is the spelling most commonly found in Germany. It is also the oldest spelling, having been in use in Bavaria since at least the 15th century. This spelling is found mainly in the Low German dialects.
Kesting is a spelling that is found mainly in southwestern Germany and Switzerland. It is thought to have been derived from the Low German word for “brave”.
Koestlein is a choicier spelling of the name that is found mainly in Austria. It is derived from Koestling, which means “son of Koest”.
Kestinger is another spelling of the surname that is found mainly in southeastern Germany and Austria.
Kestel is an anglicized spelling of the name that is most commonly found in the United States. It is likely derived from the Old German word “koesten”, which means “to guard”.
Kestenbach is a spelling of the surname that is most commonly found in eastern and northern Germany. It is derived from the Old German word “koestenbach”, which means “river or stream near Koesten”.
Kestenacher is a spelling of the surname that is found mainly in northeastern Germany. It is derived from the Middle High German word for “inhabitant of Koesten”.
Kostenbach is a spelling of the name found mainly in southwestern Germany and Switzerland. It is derived from the Old German word “koestenbach”, which means “river or stream near Koesten”.
Kostenstein is another spelling of the name found mainly in western Germany and Austria. It is derived from the Old German word “koesten”, which means “to guard”.
Kostenbacher is the spelling found mainly in southwestern Germany and Switzerland. It is derived from the Middle High German word for “inhabitant of Koesten”.
Famous people with the name Koestings
- Fritz Köstings, the third President of the Deutsche Bundesbank
- Siggi Köstings, a German TV and radio presenter
- Markus Köstings, an author and former editor-in-chief of the German magazine, Auto Motor und Sport
- Sebastian Köstings, a German basketball player
- Sascha Köstings, a German boxer
- Peter Köstings, a renowned German cinema journalist
- Uta Köstings, a former politician and member of the Social Democratic Party
- Susanne Köstings, a German actress, best known for her role in the television series, Forsthaus Falkenau
- Dresden Köstings, a German skier and winner of the men's giant slalom at the FIS Alpine World Cup event in bubendorf, switzerland in 1973
- Torsten Köstings, a German football referee and the former vice-president of the Aufsichts- und Dienstleistungsdirektion des Landessportbundes Hamburg e.V