Surname Kühl - Meaning and Origin
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F. Kühl
read moreKühl: What does the surname Kühl mean?
The last name Kühl is of German origin and is derived from the word "kühl", which means "cool, chill, fresh". The surname was used to refer to someone who was emotionally or socially aloof or distant, as well as to someone who worked with ice or refrigeration.
The Kühl surname has a number of variants, including Kuhl, Kuehl, Kuehle, Kool, Koole and Cool. In some cases, people with these names may have adopted the spelling of the surname as a means of anglicising it, since it was difficult for English speakers to pronounce the original German version.
At the dawn of the twenty-first century, Kühl could be found in several countries, most notably Germany and the United States. Today, many of those who bear the surname are of German or North-American descent. It is most common in states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and New York.
In German culture, Kühl often conjures up imagery of beer gardens in rural areas, cool summer breezes and riverside relaxation. It also carries a sense of bravery, having historically been associated with a resolute attitude during times of war and crisis. The Kühl family motto reflects this strength; it reads, "Keep Cool".
In short, the last name Kühl is a reminder of boldness, strength, stoicism and resilience in the face of adversity, as well as a connection to the cool, crisp air of the Germanic countryside.
Order DNA origin analysisKühl: Where does the name Kühl come from?
The last name Kühl is most commonly found in Germany and other German-speaking countries such as Austria and Luxembourg. In Germany, the name is particularly prevalent in the northern parts of the country like Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. It is also found with some frequency in East Friesland and Westphalia. Beyond German-speaking countries, the name is relatively rare but can be found in Denmark, France, The Netherlands and the United States.
In Germany it is believed that the name Kühl is a short form of "Kühle", which means "Cool" or "Fresh". So, it is thought that originally the name could have been used as an occupational name for a brewer, or someone who worked with or sold beverages that needed to be kept cool. Alternatively, it may have been used to describe someone who was calm and collected - like a "cool head".
The earliest known record of the name is from Thuringia, found in the year 1293 in a form of "conradus kule" and the earliest mention of the name in its modern form is from 1553 where it was used as a surname attached to a person called "Johan Kühl". Today, there are estimated to be over 15,000 people with this name living in Germany.
Bottom line, the last name Kühl is most commonly found in Germany and other German-speaking countries and is thought to originate either as an occupational name or as a descriptive term for a person's character. The name has existed for centuries and today it is estimated that there are over 15,000 people with this surname living in Germany alone.
Variations of the surname Kühl
The surname Kühl is a German surnames originating from the Middle High German noun küele, meaning cold or cool. Although its spelling and variants are probably the most common, there are several alternate spellings as well as some surnames that share its origin and may be indistinguishable.
The most common variant of Kühl is Kuehl, a slightly Americanized version. This is especially popular in North and South America, and the two versions are often used interchangeably. Other variants include Kuhl, Kuhel, Kuehle, Kuehlmann, Kuehnel, Kuehner, Cool, Coole, Kool, Kohl, Köhl, Kehl, and Kohle.
The spelling Kühl is also found in Scandinavian countries, indicated by the pronunciation of the "ü" vowel. In Scandinavian countries, the spelling is generally Kuhl.
Kuhl and Kuehl are often used interchangeably, but Kuehl is more prevalent in the US.
Surnames that share the same origin and are sometimes confused with Kühl include Koll, Kohl, and Kohlmann. These names typically have a noble background, and their root word translates to coal in English, though they also had the Middle High German meaning of “bald” or “severe”.
The variants and spellings of Kühl can be used interchangeably, depending on the country or culture where it is used. It has its own characteristics but still shares the same root meaning. While there are surnames of similar origin, understanding the spelling and variants of Kühl helps to distinguish it from other similar names.
Famous people with the name Kühl
- Willi Kühl, German footballer.
- Arne Kühl, German freestyle swimmer.
- Manfred Kühl, German wrestler and Olympic champion.
- Martin Kühl, German volleyball player.
- Peter Kühl, German rower.
- Uwe Kühl, German footballer.
- Célestine Kühl, Swiss-born American-French-Italian scientist, writer, and linguist.
- Angela Kühl, German camogie player.
- Dietrich Kühl, German ice hockey goalkeeper.
- Christian Kühl, German footballer.
- Cornelius Kühl, German explorer, botanist and professor.
- Georg Kühl, German painter.
- Petr Kühl, Czechoslovakian ice hockey player.
- Norman Kühl, German biathlete.
- Lars Kühl, German triathlete.
- Hans Kühl, German chess player.
- Sabina Kühl, German handball player.
- Christopher Kühl, German painter.
- Frank Kühl, German ice hockey player and coach.