Surname Koselleck - Meaning and Origin

Koselleck: What does the surname Koselleck mean?

The last name Koselleck is a German surname which is thought to have originally derived from the Middle High German word "koselecke" which translates to "Little Cottage". The surname is a habitational name, meaning that it indicates a person's residence or place of origin.

The surname is also thought to have a religious connotation, as it is believed to refer to someone who has pledged to follow the path of Christianity or even an individual who has been a part of a specific religious order. Furthermore, it could have also been linked to a person with the job description of a cottage owner.

The surname is also known to have multiple spelling variations, including Koseleck, Koselek, Koslek, Kosleck, Koselick, Koselik, Kuseleck, Kuselek and Kuselik. Today, the surname is still present in Germany, as well as in some other countries such as Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Switzerland, Hungary, the Netherlands and Belarus.

In modern times, the surname can often be found among families who are related to each other through descent from a common ancestor. Therefore, if you have the surname Koseleck in your family tree, chances are that you and your relatives are part of a larger Koseleck family.

Koselleck: Where does the name Koselleck come from?

The last name Koselleck is predominantly found in Germany today. It is more common in the south of Germany but can be found in many parts of the country. It is also found in some other parts of Europe such as Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.

The last name Koselleck has likely been present in Germany for hundreds of years. According to one source, it was first recorded in Saxony around 1150 AD, when families began using hereditary surnames. At that time, many people had surnames derived from aspects of their occupation or geographical area - thus the name Koselleck likely referred to someone who lived near or worked in a forest.

The origin of the name may be Slavic in nature – the name is derived from German sources but utilizes a Slavic root. The meaning of the name is thought to be ‘woodland’ or ‘wood clearing’ as Kosel was a term used to describe a clearing or area of land which had been cut down for trees.

Today, the surname Koselleck in Germany is quite common, with thousands of people bearing the last name. Many German citizens have emigrated to other countries throughout the course of history, so the name is found in some parts of the world outside of Germany as well.

Variations of the surname Koselleck

Koselleck is a German surname, derived from the Middle High German word “Kozel” which means goat. In German, the surname can be spelled in many different ways, including Koselecke, Koseleck, Kosellecke, Koselek, Koselik, Koselke, Koselleck, Kosellack, Koselleck and Koselzacke.

The surname has some variants in other languages as well. For example, in Czech and Slovak, the surname can be spelled as Koselicek, Koselar and Koselrait. In Dutch, it can be spelled as Kosellaak and in Hebrew, it is spelled as Kozellak.

In Germany, the surname is also sometimes associated with the noble families of “Koselleck von der Hochtraben” and “Koselleck von der Ober-Kunz”. The variant surnames from these noble families are Kosellecke von der Hochtraben, Koselneck von der Ober-Kunz, and Koselleck Freiherr von der Hochtraben.

Apart from the German language variants, there are some variants of the surname in English as well. English spellings of the name include Koselleck, Koshelleck and Koslelek.

The surname can also be found in other countries across Europe and appears to have been adapted to fit different languages and cultures. Examples of alternative spellings found in countries such as France and Spain are Cosellek and Kosellick respectively.

In short, the surname has many variants in multiple languages, with the most common being Koselleck in German.

Famous people with the name Koselleck

• Richard Koselleck (1923-2006)- German historian and philosopher
• Jens Koselleck (born 1985)- German footballer
• Jerry Koselleck (1930-2003)- American landscape painter
• Herbert Koselleck (1898-1945)- a German general who served during the Second World War
• Leo Koselleck (1918-1966)- German historian and réfugié
• Johann George Koselleck (1744-1824)- a German poet and playwright
• Rudi Koselleck (born 1941)- German advertising professor
• Rudolf Koselleck (1869-1954)- Austrian theatre actor
• Herman Koselleck (1866-1943)- Preacher and professor at the Oberstdorf Seminary
• Adam Koselleck (born 1981)- Australian motorbike racer

Other surnames

Kosellek