Surname von Köln - Meaning and Origin
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von Köln: What does the surname von Köln mean?
The last name von Köln is a German noble name, derived from the city of Cologne. It is an indication that someone's ancestors had been ennobled by royalty or had belonged to the upper classes of the city of Cologne. Until the French Revolution, the von Köln name referred to one of the highest social, economic and political echelons of the German Empire. It was an exclusive name and often associated with a title of aristocracy.
Von Köln is a toponymic surname. This means that it is derived from the name of a place, in this case, the city of Cologne. Surnames that are derived from the names of places usually suggest that the original bearer of the surname came from that particular place. The name von Köln is very descriptive; it gives off the aura of respect and power.
In more modern times, the von Köln surname is still associated with nobility, but it does not carry the same prestige as it once did. The family name is still quite respected, however, and is found in many respected and successful businesses all over the world. People with the name von Köln are often seen in the fields of law, finance, and politics.
Order DNA origin analysisvon Köln: Where does the name von Köln come from?
The last name von Köln is a German royal family name that can be found across Germany today. During World War II, the name became increasingly rare as many of the von Köln family members were persecuted and deported due to their Jewish heritage. Despite this, the von Köln legacy lives on amongst members of the same family who emigrated to other countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia.
In Germany, the name von Köln can still be found in Bavaria and Württemberg. Places such as Munich and Stuttgart commonly share the von Köln last name due to the high concentration of German immigrants who chose to settle in these areas. The name is also present in the state of Hessen, where members of the von Köln family can be found alongside other German royal families such as the Hochbergs and Lipps.
The area surrounding Cologne in North-Rhine Westphalia, is one of the densest areas to find the name von Köln today. This is because it is home to numerous descendants of thehaus which can be traced back to the 18th century.
In addition to this, former members of the von Köln family still live in the area and their legacy can be seen in local monuments and landmarks. These include the old von Köln family mansion located in Sülzburg, the Schlossbrunnen Hof in Neumarkt, and the von Köln family gravesite located in the old St-Giles-Kirchhof cemetery.
The name von Köln is still prominent today, especially in its homeland of Germany. Despite its declining numbers due to past events, much of the von Köln family history still remains in the form of surviving monuments, landmarks, and relatives.
Variations of the surname von Köln
The common variants of the surname von Köln are von Köln, von Koehn, von Ko(h)n, Köhne and Köhnen. Von Köln means ‘from Cologne’ and is a surname indicating origin from the German city, known in German as Köln.
The spelling of this surname is quite varied, with von Koehn and von Ko(h)n being two of the more notable variants. This is likely due to the lack of a common spelling convention in German when this surname was first adopted.
The other common variants are usually derived from the von Köln spelling, such as Köhne and Köhnen. These variants are variations on the traditional spelling, although the meaning remains the same.
Overall, the most notable variants of von Köln include Köhne, Köhnen, von Koehn and von Ko(h)n, all of which are derived from the original spelling. However, these variants are all inter-related and likely share a common origin. All surnames based on von Köln originate from the German city of Cologne, and they are all German sounding surnames.
Famous people with the name von Köln
- Cardinal Hermann von Köln (1820-1894), Archbishop of Cologne during the First Vatican Council
- Max von Köln (1873-1945), Nobel Prize-winning German physicist
- Heinrich von Köln (1911-1943), German fighter pilot in the Second World War
- Hans von Köln (1887-1955), German inventor and engineer
- Anna von Köln (1890-1974), German publisher and writer
- Eugen von Köln (1898-1944), German Resistance member and Luftwaffe fighter ace
- Erwin von Köln (1904-1977), German World War II general
- Fritz von Köln (1896-1954), German World War I flying ace
- Heinrich von Köln (1455-1518), German composer and poet
- Albrecht von Köln (1476-1532), prominent Renaissance composer