Surname Köberl - Meaning and Origin

From a Name to a History: How my iGENEA DNA test reshaped my understanding of my surname, Köberl, and my personal identity

My iGENEA DNA test was an enlightening journey of personal discovery, profoundly altering my views about my surname, Köberl, and my family's identity. Far beyond confirming the tales about our Austrian ancestry, the test opened new chapters of history, connecting me and my family to the broader tapestry of human civilization.

Z. Köberl

Köberl: What does the surname Köberl mean?

Köberl is an uncommon Germanic surname thought to have originated from Bavaria, Germany. The name can also be spelled Koebl or Koeberl, and may sometimes be accompanied by a double-e (Köeberl).

The name Köberl is believed to be derived from the Bavarian German word “Köbel,” meaning “basket” or “bucket.” This suggests the name is likely derived from an occupational surname, and could have been an identifier of someone such as a basket-maker or bucket-carrier.

In some cases, the Köberl name may have also been derived from another source. The prefix “köb-” (or “kub-”) can also mean “head” or “cap” in Middle High German. Therefore, if combined with a suffix, “-erl,” which means a “little one” or “young man,” the name could signify someone who wore a “headpiece” or “cap”—perhaps a knight or soldier.

Though Köberl is not a common name, it still has a fascinating and varied background. As a Germanic surname, it adds a unique and interesting element to one’s family history.

Köberl: Where does the name Köberl come from?

The last name Köberl is commonly found in Austria and parts of Germany. According to the German telephone directory, over three thousand people bear this name. The great majority of them reside in the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The name is also associated with Upper and Lower Austria, and is believed to originate from these regions.

The name Köberl might have derived from the word ‘Köber’, which means timber, points to the business of providing timber for construction purposes. Alternatively, the surname could have its origin in the word ‘köbel’, which means a wooden box or chest, thus indicating an ancestral occupation involving carpentry.

The name is likely to have been used in the Prussian province of Silesia in the late sixteenth century and possibly earlier. The town of Ganzig (South West of Steinau) recorded three entries of the name Köberl in 1619, 1623 and 1670, two of which pertained to siblings, Ivo and Otilia, whose father is recorded as Petro Köberl.

Köberl is not a common surname and is termed a ‘rare’ name according to the list of names registered in Germany for 2012. Although the surname has a strong presence in Austria and Germany, the number of people bearing the name in other countries is small. It is likely that the surname spread to other countries with the migration of people, however, this is not documented yet.

Variations of the surname Köberl

Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Köberl include:

Köberle

Köberlein

Keberl

Keberle

Keberlein

Koeberle

Koeberlein

Koeprle

Koeprlin

Kopel

Kopeler

Köberl is a German surname, which is derived from the Middle High German word “köber,” meaning “hat maker.” It is believed to have originated in Bavaria sometime in the late Middle Ages. The name may have been modified over time due to regional dialect and phonetic differences.

At the time the surname was established, it was common practice to spell each word as it sounded rather than focusing on accuracy, so the many variations of the Köberl surname is easily explained. The variations and spellings of the surname also reflect the difficulty of properly scribing the German language. It is likely that the various spellings spread out over time as people migrated across Europe.

Given the mobility of people in the 18th and 19th centuries, it is possible to find descendants of Köberl in many different countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia and parts of Central and South America.

Famous people with the name Köberl

• Franz Köberl (born 1952), Austrian painter and sculptor
• Ruth Köberl (born 1947), Austrian opera singer
• Tobias Köberl (born 1984), Austrian footballer
• Gustav Köberl (1860–1927), Austrian military officer
• Adam Köberl (1863–1943), Austrian violinist
• Anton Köberl (1855-1923), Austrian composer and conductor
• Jürgen Köberl (born 1960), German politician
• Ute Köberl (born 1964), Austrian mountaineer
• Erna Köberl (1896–1973), Austrian composer 10.Veronika Köberl (born 1995), Austrian discus thrower

Other surnames

KoberKöberKöbererKobergKobergerKoberleKöberleKöberleinKoberleyKöberlinKobertKöbert