Surname Kohle - Meaning and Origin
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Kohle: What does the surname Kohle mean?
The surname Kohle is of German origin and it directly translates to "coal" in English. This name could have been associated with the occupation of the original bearers, suggesting that they might have functioned in the coal industry, possibly as coal miners or coal merchants. Often, last names were derived from the occupations of individuals or their ancestors during the Middle Ages, therefore, it was not uncommon for a person's surname to represent their work or trade. It's also possible that the name was topographical, indicating a location with prominent coal deposits. As with any surname, the specific significance can vary between different families carrying the name.
Order DNA origin analysisKohle: Where does the name Kohle come from?
The surname Kohle is of German origin, likely derived from the German word "kohle" which means "coal". This may indicate that the first bearers of the surname were involved in the coal industry, either as miners or merchants. As a German name, it's predominantly common within Germany. In the past, it was particularly prevalent in regions where coal mining was a significant part of the local economy. However, the distribution of the name isn't contained to Germany alone. Migration and globalization have resulted in the spread of the surname worldwide, primarily in countries with a significant German diaspora such as the United States, Canada, and parts of South America. Still, compared to some other surnames, Kohle remains relatively rare in most regions outside of Germany.
Variations of the surname Kohle
The surname Kohle is of German origin. It was originally a nickname for a dark or swarthy individual, from the old Germanic word "Kohle" meaning "Coal". Variants of this surname embrace a range of different spellings including Kohl, Koehler, Koller, Kohler, Koler, Koehle, Koehl, Kuhl, and Kuehl.
Koehler and Kohler are more prevalent variants and these surnames expanded to different regions with their respective linguistic changes and dialects. In some cases, these names may have also been occupational in nature, given to someone who made charcoal or worked with coal.
The surname has been diversified further with emigration, translating it to spellings that reflect the phonetic pronunciation in different languages. Therefore, it could appear as Cole or Coal in English-speaking countries. It has also further been anglicized to Cale, Kyle, or Kell.
Another common practice for surnames is to add suffixes like "-son" or "-sen" (meaning son of) in Scandinavian countries, hence Kohleson and Kohlesen could be possible variants too. A similar patronymic tradition exists in Slavic countries where "-vic" is added to form Kohlevic.
Overall, the root of these surnames remains linked to the original Germanic word "Kohle".
Famous people with the name Kohle
- Sara Kohle: Singer-songwriter who released her debut single “Sob” in 2019 and has appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and MTV Live.
- Jenna Kohle: Entrepreneur and founder of the Genuine Aid Project, a non-profit providing water access to underserved communities on the East Coast.
- Amy Kohle: Visual artist who works in photography, video, sculpture, and installation.
- Ashleigh Kohle: Neuroscientist and writer who has researched and written about neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
- Isabella Kohle: Plant engineer and sustainability expert who works as a consultant on sustainable energy and energy efficiency projects in Europe.
- Max Kohle: German footballer for club FC Augsburg who plays as a central midfielder.
- John Kohle: Grammy-nominated British electronic musician and producer.
- Andy Kohle: Business strategist and entrepreneur who has consulted companies like Google, Nike, and Panasonic on digital transformation.
- Peter Kohle: Politician and member of the Duchy of Anhalt in Germany.
- David Kohle: Austrian public and digital strategist who works as a consultant for the World Bank.