Surname Kiehn - Meaning and Origin
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Kiehn: What does the surname Kiehn mean?
The last name Kiehn is of Germanic origin. It was likely derived from the personal name Kehin which was first recorded in the early Middle Ages. This name was derived from the Germanic personal name Kigin, meaning "kinsman" or "kinship". As a surname, Kiehn is thought to have originally referred to a group of people who were related to each other through a common ancestor or tribal leader.
As is typical for Germanic patronymic surnames, Kiehn would have carried on the surname of the father in a particular family. The name has been found in various parts of Germany, with the earliest records being from Bavaria. Over the centuries, it spread to other parts of Europe and eventually to other parts of the world as well.
Kiehn is thought to be a relatively uncommon name. It is not often found in the United States, where the majority of people with the name are of German descent. That said, the name is still fairly well-known in some areas in Germany and certain other parts of Europe.
People with the Kiehn surname are proud of their roots and are connected to the history of their ancestors. While the exact origins of the name Kiehn remain a mystery, it is clear that it has been part of many families’ histories for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisKiehn: Where does the name Kiehn come from?
The last name Kiehn is most commonly found primarily in northern Europe, particularly in Germany and the Netherlands, but also in countries like Denmark, Sweden, and Switzerland.
TheGesellschaft für Computer-Genealogie, an association of genealogists and computer scientists from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, is currently tracking the last name Kiehn and providing record searches and family tree research for those with the last name. The records from this organization show that Kiehn is much more common in Germany, with the highest concentration found in Schleswig-Holstein, a northern state in Germany. However, a more recent search of the people search engine whitepages.com, shows that Kiehn is also relatively common and spread out throughout the United States. The largest concentrations are found in the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Ohio.
No matter where Kiehn families are, the common thread among them is the proud heritage each family has, whether the family first originated in Germany, Netherlands, or some other country in northern Europe. The Kiehn name continues to carry a positive connotation, associated not only with a strong sense of family values, but also with a rich history that is still evident today in modern culture.
Variations of the surname Kiehn
The surnames Kiehn, Keyhan, Keihn, Keihan, Kine, Kien and Kyne all share the same origin. The surnames are variations of the German surname Keine, which is derived from the Middle High German name Küne, meaning “honourable one”.
The surname Kiehn became a permanent name in Germany in the late 18th century, and has since spread beyond Germany's borders. It can be found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and many other countries.
The variants Keyhan and Keihan are the most common American forms of the Kiehn spelling. They are both derived from the German Kühn, a variant of Kiehn.
In some cases, the name Kiehn may have been altered to Kyne or Kine due to immigration and naturalization processes. This is particularly true of those families who tried to Anglicize their names in order to fit in better in their new homeland.
The spelling Keihn is the most widely used form of the surname throughout Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands. Some families with the surname Keihn have also been found in Ireland, although this is believed to be due to migration from Germany and the Netherlands in the mid-19th century.
Overall, the surnames Kiehn, Keyhan, Keihan, Kine, Kien and Kyne are all derived from the forename Küne. The spelling may have changed due to immigration and naturalization processes, but all of these names share the same origin.
Famous people with the name Kiehn
- Laura Kiehn: Laura Kiehn is a former professional basketball player who played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for the Seattle Storm. She won two championships with the team in 2004 and 2010.
- Andrew Kiehn: Andrew Kiehn is a professional cyclist and winner of the 2016 US Pro Road Race Championship.
- Marty Kiehn: Marty Kiehn is a former professional motorcycle racer and winner of the Daytona 200 race in 1976.
- Jack Kiehn: Jack Kiehn is a professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and is known for his 2002 win at the PGA Tour Virgin Classic.
- Greg Kiehn: Greg Kiehn is a professional offset and digital printer, and also a visual artist. He is known for printing the books issued in the "American Graphic Classics" series.
- Jerry Kiehn: Jerry Kiehn is an American actor who had minor roles in the films Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and The Final Terror (1983).
- Tom Kiehn: Tom Kiehn is a retired professor of psychology at the University of Central Florida, known for his work in clinical psychology and his research on social psychology.
- Eric Kiehn: Eric Kiehn is a professional basketball coach and head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers from 1979 to 1983.
- Kurt Kiehn: Kurt Kiehn is a former professional ice hockey player and a member of the 1982 United States Ice Hockey Team.
- Michael Kiehn: Michael Kiehn is an American film producer, director and screenwriter who is best known for his films Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) and The Quick and the Dead (1995).