Surname Koehnlein - Meaning and Origin

Koehnlein: What does the surname Koehnlein mean?

The last name Koehnlein is of German origin. It is thought to have derived from the German word “Koenig,” which translates to “king.” It is possible that the surname was originally borne by an individual of royal descent.

The surname is most commonly found in southern Germany, particularly in the Bavarian region. It is a fairly common last name in Germany as a whole. It is believed to be derived from the Old German word “cohen” which is a term for a governor or leader in the feudal system. The ending “lein” is often used as a diminutive form of a word, and so the surname Koehnlein may have originally been a tender nickname for someone associated with regal status or nobility.

The Koehnlein surname in the German language is normally pronounced “keen-line” and in English, it is typically pronounced “ken-line.” The spelling of the last name is sometimes seen as Koehnle or Koehnle, as well.

An indivial with the surname Koehnlein would be proud of their Germanic heritage. It’s possible that the surname could have been a reminder of the power and status held by the Koehnlein clan at one time. It is a name with centuries of history that is still relatively common today.

Koehnlein: Where does the name Koehnlein come from?

The last name Koehnlein is most commonly found in Germany today, particularly in the states of Bavaria and Lower Saxony, but it is also quite widespread throughout Europe. In Germany, the name is recorded in cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt, and Köln.

Outside of Europe, the last name Koehnlein is found in fairly small numbers in the United States, primarily in the Upper Midwest. There may even be a few other scattered regions in North America that could be said to have some concentration of Koehnlein families, although the population is quite small. It is also found in small numbers in South America, particularly in Argentina, Uruguay, and Colombia, as well as a few Asian countries, such as India and China.

Koehnlein is one of the hundreds of German surnames that have been carried down for centuries. It first began to appear in church registers and court documents in the late Middle Ages and early modern period, when surnames first began to be used for identification. As we have come to know it today, the name Koehnlein is likely the result of patronymic derivation, i.e. an adoption of the father's first name as the family's last name.

Variations of the surname Koehnlein

Koehnlein is a German surname, which is derived from the Middle High German word ‘knönlîn’, which means ‘little man’. The alternative variants of the surname Koehnlein include Köhnlein, Koehnle, Könlein, Kohnlein, Köhnle, Koenle, Kihnlein, and many others.

The variations in spelling of Koehnlein can be attributed to the fact that until the late 19th century most official documents, including birth, marriage, and death certificates were recorded by hand and thus, many different spellings of the same name could end up in the records.

In addition, some Koehnlein families changed the spelling of their surname to Köhnlein, Koehle, Könlein, Kohnlein, Köhnle, Koenle, and Kihnlein. These are all variations of the same name, but the original spelling is Koehnlein.

The different variations on the spelling of Koehnlein appear to have arisen during their migration from Germany to other countries or due to dialectal differences. The diversity of spellings of the same surname can be attributed to several diverse cultural influences, particularly in countries such as the United States of America and Canada.

The surnames Koehnlein, Köhnlein, Koehle, Könlein, Kohnlein, Köhnle, Koenle, and Kihnlein are all variants of the same origin that stemmed from the Middle High German word ‘knönlîn’. All of these names refer to a ‘little man’ and have been used for generations by families with German roots.

Famous people with the name Koehnlein

• Stephanie Koehnlein: Survivor alum and artist
• Steven Koehnlein: Professional MMA fighter
• Vanessa Koehnlein: Professional volleyball player
• Paul Koehnlein: Professional cyclist
• Harald Koehnlein: High-ranking Nazi SS officer
• Robert Koehnlein: German composer
• Tim Koehnlein: Football player and coach
• Claire Koehnlein: Professional snowboarder
• Gisela Koehnlein: German sculptor
• Olaf Koehnlein: German singer and actor

Other surnames

Koehnle