Surname Kuhnen - Meaning and Origin
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Kuhnen: What does the surname Kuhnen mean?
The last name Kuhnen is of German origin, particularly common in northern Germany. The name is derived from the German verb “Kuhnen” which means “to buy or to purchase”. As such, it was likely originally used to denote someone who bought or traded goods and wares. This is in keeping with the tradition of occupational surnames in Germany which often refer to the occupation of the family who first bore the name.
The surname Kuhnen appeared as early as the 14th century in records in northern German towns and would eventually spread to other parts of the region, as well as other parts of Europe through the migration of those bearing the name.
Today, the surname Kuhnen is still seen throughout Germany, but is also present in countries like Austria, USA, UK, France, Canada, Brazil, Australia, Peru, Mexico, and many more. It is estimated that over 200,000 individuals in the world bear the last name.
Kuhnen is an interesting last name that has stood the test of time and changes in geography and culture. It is possible that the original family who first bore the name traded goods that are still a part of everyday life today, and it will be interesting to note how the surname changes and adapts in the future.
Order DNA origin analysisKuhnen: Where does the name Kuhnen come from?
The surname Kuhnen is most common in Germany today. The last name has its origin in the Middle Ages and comes from the Germanic "kuhnam", meaning "dweller in the corner, corner place". The surname was originally a topographic name for someone living on a corner of land or an area near a corner, or a habitational name for a dwelling near a corner of land or a town square.
Kuhnen is found mainly in the south and west of Germany. The probability of the surname being in this area is because of a region known as Kleine-Schwaben which is near the Austrian border. This area is known as the ancestral home of the Kuhnen family. This means that areas near this ancestral home are more likely to have a higher population of the surname.
Registry of the surname Kuhnen within Germany states that it is currently most common in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Together with the neighbouring provinces of Lower Saxony and Rhineland-Palatinate the states surrounding this region have the highest concentration of the surname Kuhnen in Germany.
The surname is also found in other countries, mostly within Europe, but also in places such as the United States of America, Canada, and Brazil, as a result of immigration and emigration from Germany.
Variations of the surname Kuhnen
Kuhnen is a German surname originating from the Old High German word ‘kunan’, which means ‘to know’. The most common variant of this surname is Conen. Other variants that include various spellings and surnames derived from the original name Kuhnen are Kōnen, Coon, Konen, Kühne, Kühnen, Coonne, Cone, Koon, Koznen, Kounen, Koone, Connen, Kühn, Kohen, and Koehnen.
Kuhnen is mostly found in the German-speaking regions of the world, such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland. This name is also found in other countries with German immigrants, such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Due to the many variants and spellings of the surname Kuhnen, there are also many surnames derived from it, such as Conen, Kōnen, Coon, Konen and Coonne. Other surnames such as Kühne, Kühnen, Cone, Koon, Koznen, Kounen, Koone, Connen, Kühn, Kohen, and Koehnen are also derived from this surname.
Overall, Kuhnen is a Germanic surname with a long history. While it is mostly found in German speaking regions, the many variants, spellings and surnames derived from this name are found throughout the world.
Famous people with the name Kuhnen
- Georg Kuhnen: A German politician who served as Minister for Special Tasks in the Schroeder government, and was a member of the Bundestag for more than 10 years.
- Bjorn Kuhnen: An accomplished German film producer and director with credits from the music video Goldenchester Forever to his hit Swedish comedy feature film, "Hemsöborna" (The Residents).
- Peter Kuhnen: An Austrian born professional Alpine ski racer who was active on the International Ski Federation (FIS) circuit, amassing 15 top-10 finishes in slalom and giant slalom.
- Jürgen Kuhnen: A German tenor who was regarded as one of the most prominent operetta singers of the post-war era, as well as a highly successful recording artist, appearing regularly in the German hit parade.
- Reinhard Kuhnen: A German chess Grandmaster and the German National Champion in 1991, 1993 and 1995.
- Richard Kuhnen: A Gauleiter of Nazi Germany and a member of the NSDAP, who was assigned by Hitler to become Gauleiter of Danzig-West Prussia in 1939.
- Stephan Kuhnen: A German musicologist who is best known for his work on the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, and was the editor of the Bach-Jahrbuch (annual Bach publication) from 1971 to 1977.
- Martin Kuhnen: A German-born American soccer player who played professionally in the United Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League, winning Rookie of the Year Honors for the Washington Warthogs in 1984.
- Detlef Kuhnen: A German chemist and professor who currently serves as a professor at the Technical University of Berlin, with research focuses on materials chemistry and polymers.
- Marie Kuhnen: A French actress who starred in numerous productions on television, film, and theatre, and won the French Television Academy Special Award in 1989 for her performance in the one-woman play "Maison Close."