Surname Kehl - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Unlocking the Mysteries of the Kehl Surname through the iGENEA DNA Test: A Riveting Genetics Journey
Venturing into the annals of personal lineage through the iGENEA DNA Test, the author explores the historical profoundness of the Kehl surname. Through this gripping journey of self-discovery, connections are made with other Kehls found worldwide through the iGENEA database.
V. Kehl
read moreKehl: What does the surname Kehl mean?
The last name Kehl is of German origin and is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word “kel” which references a corner in a city or village. Throughout the centuries, the name has been spelled various different ways, including Kahle, Kehle, Köhle, Kehlen, Köhlen, Köhl, and Kehl.
The name has been used in Germany since at least the 15th century. In its early days, the name held various meanings referring to a group of people, such as “a comer of people” or “a small group of distinct people”.
As the name spread throughout Europe, it was used to reference individuals living in those corners or small groups. It eventually referred to a person who was from a specific area within their region or a person with origins from a “Kehl” town.
Today, the name Kehl is common in Germany and is also found in the United States. Many people with this surname are found living near the original Kehl region in Germany or other German-speaking countries. Other generations of the Kehl family have moved to different parts of the world as their descendants search for employment opportunities.
Overall, the name Kehl is a symbol of German heritage and ancestry and those with the name Kehl may be proud of their roots. It serves as a reminder of the family’s strength to endure through changing times and landscapes.
Order DNA origin analysisKehl: Where does the name Kehl come from?
The last name Kehl is most common in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and throughout the Germanic countries. It is most frequent in the Baden-Württemberg region of southwest Germany, followed by Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Thuringia. Kehl is a toponymic or habitational surname, derived from towns with this name located in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The name appears to have originated in the Middle Ages, and originally referred to people from Kehl in Baden-Württemberg. By the 19th century, the name had spread to other parts of Germanic Europe, and can also be found in the United States, Canada, and other countries with large German populations. Kehl is also a common Jewish surname in Germany, derived from a town near Mainz.
Given the ubiquity of the name in parts of Germany, it can be found in databases such as the German Telephone Directory, as well as records of public figures, athletes, and genealogical records. There are many other Kehls throughout Europe, and the name is likely to have other regional variations as well.
Variations of the surname Kehl
The surname Kehl is of German origin, and several variants and spellings of the name exist. The most common variant is Kehle, but it can also be spelled Kehlle, Kehlen, Kehlin, Kehlmann, Kehler, Kehling, Kehel, and Kehley. Some other names that have a similar origin are Kahl, Köhl, Koehler, Köhler, Kohlen, Koehlmann, and Köhlmann.
The meaning of the surname relates to its geographical origins. "Kehl" or "Köhl" means cultivated land or channelled water in German, and "Kahl" and "Koehlmann" mean bald or smooth, most likely relating to a bald hill. The "Köhler" spelling of this name related to a person from the town of Köhler in Germany, while the "Koehler" spelling is a variant of the German word for charcoal, referring to the charcoal-burners of the region.
The surnames Kahl and Kohlen are both derived from the Low German word kalen, which means to cool. Kehl is also derived from the Low German word kehlen, meaning "furrow" or "ridge". The surname Kehlmann is derived from the Low German surname Keilmann that means "man of the Keil family".
Kehl is a fairly common surname in Germany and other German-speaking countries. It is still found in Europe, but it has also spread around the world due to emigration. Those bearing the surname Kehl may be descended from medieval German settlers in the United States, Canada, England, and other parts of Europe.
Famous people with the name Kehl
- 1.Sven Kehl: Former professional football midfielder and current youth coach for Borussia Dortmund
- Stephan Kehl: Retired German football player
- Phil Kehl: Former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
- Erich Kehl: Former mayor of Clausthal-Zellerfeld in Germany.
- Erich Kehlmann: Entrepreneur who founded the German company Schmidt, Kehl & Co.
- Lorenz Kehl: German classical composer and chant leader.
- Daniela Kehl: German actress and film producer.
- Katja Kehl: Professional German Olympic swimmer.
- Monika Kehl: Former German rugby union player and coach.
- William Kehl: Former United States Navy Medal of Honor recipient.
- Valerie Kehl: German supermodel who represented Germany in the 2002 Miss Universe pageant.
- Karoline Kehl: Professional German soccer player and 2008 Olympic bronze medalist.
- Abigail Kehl: American actress who starred in the Netflix series, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
- Kate Kehl: Professional US television journalist for ABC News.
- Eva Kehl: Brazilian singer and songwriter.
- Andreas Kehl: German football player and manager.
- Amelie Kehl: German television presenter.
- Sven Gustaf Kehl: Swedish actor, director and stage performer.
- Helmut Kehl: German Luftwaffe fighter pilot during World War II.
- Paul Kehl: German-American historian and professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin.