Surname Kowall - Meaning and Origin
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Kowall: What does the surname Kowall mean?
The last name Kowall is a German surname. The name is derived from the German word "Kogel," which translates to "ball." This term likely originated from the root word, "Kugel," which means "sphere" or "globe." It is likely that the name Kowall refers to a family that originated from a group of globetrotters—nomads who traveled from place to place, often playing music or making other forms of entertainment. Alternatively, the name could have been derived from the term "Kael," which refers to an area of land, often with high amounts of clay and used for farming. This could suggest that the Kowall family had a long history of farming on a particular patch of land.
The Kowall family was likely to have been involved with the workings of everyday life and the development of their native Germany. As a result, the Kowall family often held important positions in their local communities and had strong ties to the military. Today, members of the Kowall family are spread across the world, many of them in America. For those born with the Kowall name, they can likely trace their familial roots back to a story of adventurous nomads or a hardworking group of farmers, both of whom have left an indelible mark on the history of Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisKowall: Where does the name Kowall come from?
The last name Kowall is most commonly found in Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia. It is thought to have originally been derived from the name of a small town located in what is now modern day Belarus. In Poland, Kowall is the seventh most common surname with over 62 thousand people having the last name. In Belarus, Kowall is also a common surname and is spelled either as Kowal or Koval. In Russia, the variant spelling Koval is the 53rd most common last name with over 15 thousand people having the name. The Ukrainian spelling of the surname is Kowal and is the 9th most common surname in the country with over 30 thousand people being recorded with the name.
Kowall is also a relatively common surname in the United States and Canada, where it is mostly found amongst people of East European, Russian, Jewish, and Ukrainian heritage. Studies have shown that the surname is most common in the Midwestern states of Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana as well as in the states of New York, Florida, California, and New Jersey.
In terms of exploration outside of North America, Kowall can be found spread across Germany, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Middle East. There are also a number of British people who hold the surname, largely descended from individuals who adopted the surname whilst living and working abroad.
Variations of the surname Kowall
The surname Kowall is believed to have been derived from the ancient word “kowal” meaning blacksmith in many Slavic languages. Kowall is also spelled in a variety of ways, including Kowal, Kowalk, Koval, Kovalik, Kovalenko, Kowalchuk, and Kowalczuk.
Variations of the surname Kowall also exist in different countries. In German, the surname is known as Kowalz, Kowalski or Kowell, while in Polish it is Kowalski, Kowalczyk, or Kowalewski. In Hungarian, the surname is known as Kowal, and in Ukrainian, it is Kovalenko or Koval'chuk.
The surname Kowall also has many different spellings and variations depending on the region in which the bearer lives. In the Russian Federation, the surname is spelled Kovalev, Kovallevich, Koval'nikov, Koval'nikova, Koval'schikov, and Kovalchuk. In Belarus it is spelled Kavalevich, Koval'kou, and in Lithuania it is spelled Kavaliauskas. In Croatia, the surname is spelled Kovalik, Kowalec, Kowalk, and Kowaleski.
In addition to variants of the surname Kowall, it also has various surname combinations. The name “Kowall-Kowalski” is common in Poland, and the name “Kowall-Kowalczyk” is popular in Hungary. In Belarus, the combination “Kowall-Kavalevich” is common, while in Russia the combination “Kowall-Kovalev” is seen. Other combinations include “Kowall-Kovalefska” and “Kowall-Koval'nikov”.
Famous people with the name Kowall
- Jeff Kowall: Former two time Michigan House of Representative
- Fred Kowall: Former Kansas State Senator
- Elissa Kowall: Canadian rower and Olympic silver medalist
- Alex Kowall: American professional baseball player
- Arthur Kowall: German SS officer and Nazi war criminal
- John Kowall: American software consultant
- Robin Kowall: Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals
- Kathy Kowall: American abstract painter
- Steven Kowall: American actor and television host
- Erich Kowall: German businessman and former CEO of Audi
- Frank Kowall: American state Senator and World War II veteran
- Mariano Kowall: Italian professional football player
- Christy Kowall: American actress, dancer and singer
- Peter Kowall: American banker and philanthropist
- Jeremy Kowall: Canadian music producer and vocalist