Surname Kepplinger - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Kepplinger: What does the surname Kepplinger mean?
The last name Kepplinger is an old Germanic family name, originating from the southern part of Austria during the medieval period. The name derived from the combination of two distinct Germanic words, “kepp” and “linge”. The first part, “kepp”, is believed to imply a connection to a local lord or ruler, possibly derived from the German “kepf” which means count. The second part of the name “linge” however has more uncertain origins, possibly derived from the same root as the old German “lingen”, meaning border, or could even have evolved from the old Norse word “lyng” meaning heather or heathland.
Regardless of the precise etymology of the name, for centuries Kepplingers were prominent local figures in southern Austria, where the Kepplinger families of today still reside. The continued presence of the name in modern Austria is testament to the family’s proud history, and their legacy continues through the many descendants in Europe and around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisKepplinger: Where does the name Kepplinger come from?
The surname Kepplinger is of German origin. It is believed to come from the word "keppeln" or "keppich" which translates to “wooden hooped barrel” or “hobnail”. Today, the last name Kepplinger is still found in German-speaking countries like Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein. It can also be found in the United States, Australia, and other countries where people have German ancestry.
In the United States, Kepplinger was the 7,149th most popular surname in 2020, with around 1,406 individuals using the name. This is an increase of 21.3% since the 1990 census where it was recorded at 1,162 individuals with the last name. It is most commonly found among German and Swiss Americans, as well as those of Eastern European descent. It is estimated that about 75% of individuals with the last name are of German or Swiss heritage.
Kepplinger is a well-known surname and it is ranked among the top 15% of all surnames today. It is important to note that, with the influx of German immigrants to the United States over the last few centuries, the population of Kepplinger bearers has greatly increased. This means that, even in countries where it may not have been popular a century ago, the surname is now found more commonly.
Variations of the surname Kepplinger
The surname Kepplinger has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Variants of Kepplinger include: Kapplinger, Kapplingler, Koplinger, Koplingler, Kopplinger, Kopplinger, Koepplinger, Koeplinger, Kepeling, Kepelinge, Kepelinger, Kepelinger, Keping, Kepinge, Keppilein, Keppileing, Keppilein, Kepplinger and Keplinger.
Some of the spellings of the surnames are often seen when records are written down by readers of earlier times. For example, a phonetically equivalent spelling of the surname would be: Kapeling, Kapelinge, Kappeling, Kappelinge, Kopeling, Kopelinge and Köppeling.
Kepplinger is also used as an anglicized spelling of the German surname Köppling, Köpling or Köplinge. All of these spellings are derived from the same German root meaning "small, little or smallish."
Surnames of similar origins include Koeppling, Koebling, Kübl, Kübbel, Kuppler, Kueppler, Kuepfling, Kuoppler and Kepflin. All of these surnames are derived from Old German words, such as 'küpfel' or 'kübbel', meaning 'small or smallish'.
Various spellings of the surname Kepplinger can be seen in other languages too including: Keppelin (Czech), Keppilain (Polish), Kapplinger (French), Kupplinger (Austrian), Köpling (Dutch) and Köppel (Swedish). All of these surnames originate from the Old German language.
In conclusion, the surname Kepplinger has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. All of these surnames have been derived from Old German words, such as 'Küpfel' or 'Kübbel', meaning 'small or smallish' and all of them have their own place in the genealogical history of the surname.
Famous people with the name Kepplinger
- Joseph Kepplinger (American engineer and geothermal energy pioneer)
- Ellen Kepplinger (German philologist and specialist in spoken language).
- Safety Kepplinger (American basketball coach).
- Danny Kepplinger (minor league professional baseball player).
- Ferdinand Kepplinger (Austrian physicist).
- Karl Kepplinger (Austrian sculptor and painter).
- Johann Kepplinger (German composer).
- Thomas Kepplinger (German stuntman and actor).
- Erich Kepplinger (German World War II officer).
- Frank Kepplinger (German architect).
- Rudi Kepplinger (Austrian alpine skier).
- Wolfgang Kepplinger (German snowboarder and ski mountaineer).
- Hugo Kepplinger (Austrian ski medallist).
- Daniel Kepplinger (American airshow pilot).
- Ted Kepplinger (American rapper).