Surname Kühle - Meaning and Origin
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Kühle: What does the surname Kühle mean?
The last name Kühle is of German origin, derived from the German word “Kühl”, meaning “cool, chilly, or refreshing”. As a surname, Kühle has been most commonly found in central and eastern parts of Germany, as well as parts of Austria, Prussia, and Switzerland. As a result, the name is particularly associated with Germanic culture.
The name has been widely used as either a given name or a surname in German-speaking regions since at least the early 13th century. Scholars have deduced from this that the name likely referred to a personality trait, with recipients of the name being either known for their coolheaded and chill demeanor, or for their refreshing and uncomplicated personality. It is also possible that the name derived from a topographical feature, as “Kühl” also means “cold” in some areas of Germany.
Today, the name Kühle is still very much alive and well, particularly in Germany, where it is among the most popular last names in the country. It is also beginning to spread further afield, with relatively large numbers of Kühles living in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other parts of Europe. Furthermore, its many spelling variations – including Kuehl, Kuelle, Kuehle, Kuehlle, Kool, Kooler, Kule, and Kühl – have enabled the name to remain vibrant and alive, regardless of where people of Kühle descent may now reside.
Order DNA origin analysisKühle: Where does the name Kühle come from?
The last name Kühle is common today in both Germany and Austria. In Germany, the name is found primarily in the western and northern states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein. In Austria, the name is primarily concentrated in the provinces of Lower and Upper Austria, as well as Vienna.
The etymology of the name Kühle is uncertain, however it is thought to have originated from either the Old German word "khele" meaning cool or the Middle High German word "kuhhil" meaning a "small hollow".
The Kühle family name can be traced back to the year 1591 when Konrad Kühle was listed as a tenant of a farm in the German city of Aachen.
Kühle is a popular German surname and is still quite common in Germany today. It is found most often in rural and agricultural areas where the land has been passed down though generations of the same family.
The last name Kühle is found throughout Europe in countries such as Switzerland, Austria, France, Scandinavia and the Netherlands. It is also listed in databases of immigrants from Northern Europe to the United States. Today, it is most popular in its native Germany and Austria.
Variations of the surname Kühle
The surname Kühle is a German, and particularly an Upper German and East Preussian surname that is derived from the word 'Kühl', which means cool or cold. The modern variants of the surname include Kühl, Kuhle and Kuehle, and other similar spellings include Koehle, Köhle, Köhl, Kool, Kuehl, Koole.
In German surnames, the letter 'ü' is often interchangeable with 'oe', 'ö' and ‘ue’. Therefore, further variants of the surname Kühle include Kohl, Kuhl, Kuehl, Koehl and Köhl. Variants of this surname are also found throughout Germany, Europe and other areas of the world, including variants such as Kuehl (made popular in Upper German speaking Germany) and Kool (made popular in North America and Australia).
Many people of German-speaking descent also modify the spelling of their surname slightly, adding -er at the end of the surname. In the case of Kühle, this modification becomes Kühler or Kuhler, and other variants of this modified version include Koehler, Köhler, Kooler and Kuehler.
The surname Kühle is historically most common in the states of North Rhine, Westphalia and Hesse and in the East Prussian region, although the surname does appear occasionally in other parts of Germany, Europe and other parts of the world. Additionally, the spelling may also have been altered slightly when family members moved or emigrated to other countries. For example, the surname Kool is specifically found in many areas of North America, Australia and some parts of Europe.
Famous people with the name Kühle
- Katharina Kühle: German track and field athlete and long-distance runner
- Lorenz August Kühle: German physician and pioneer in the field of neurology
- Alina Kühle-Gefeller: German Women's Affairs Minister from 1991 to 1994
- Konrad Kühle: German classical archaeologist
- Bernd Kühle: German contemporary painter
- Reinhard Kühle: German rower and Olympian
- Gunhild Kühle: Norwegian javelin thrower
- Norbert Kühle: German field hockey player
- Imre Kühle: Hungarian footballer and manager
- Bart Kühle: Dutch speed skater and five-time Olympian