Surname Kühnhanss - Meaning and Origin
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Kühnhanss: What does the surname Kühnhanss mean?
The last name Kühnhanss is of German origin and is derived from the German word ‘kühn’ which means brave or bold, and ‘hanss’ which is a diminutive of the personal name ‘Johannes’. Therefore, the meaning of the surname Kühnhanss is ‘brave or bold little Johann’. The surname can also be found among different German-speaking communities in Europe and around the globe.
The surname Kühnhanss is thought to have derived from the Old High German words ‘kùhn’ meaning brave or bold, and ‘hans’ a diminutive of the personal name ‘Johann’. This implies the surname ‘Kühnhanss’ could been adopted by an ancestor with the personal name ‘Johann’. Alternatively, it could have been adopted by an ancestor who wanted their children to imbibe qualities associated with the personal name ‘Johann’, which includes honesty, truthfulness, and loyalty.
Regardless of the precise origin of the surname Kühnhanss, it has been in existence since at least the late Middle Ages. During that time, the name was likely borne by a number of noble families in Germany whose ancestors claimed to have descended from bold and fearless individuals. Over the centuries, the surname has spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, where it is now commonly thought to mean ‘brave little lion’.
Order DNA origin analysisKühnhanss: Where does the name Kühnhanss come from?
The last name Kühnhanss is most commonly found in Germany. It is an occupational name derived from the German Eidgenössisch diplomierte or "Diplomatically Certified" and related to occupations such as farming, brewing or baking. The name has been around since the 14th century and has been seen in the same spelling Kühnhanss for multiple generations.
Today, Kühnhanss is still a popular surname in Germany, with the most concentrated pockets of the population living in the country's West,North, and South regions. In cities like Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, Munich, and Frankfurt am Main, the name is particularly common.
At present, the surname Kühnhanss is also found in countries that are home to significant German diaspora populations, including the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, and other places around the world.
Furthermore, if you search for Kühnhanss variants such as Kühnhanß, Kühnhans, Conehans, Conhans, Koonhanss, Koonhans, Kuhnhaus, or Kuhnhons, you'll see the name pop up in the Netherlands as well as in some other European countries.
Overall, Kühnhanss is a fairly common German name, but it can also be found in other parts of the world due to German immigration and the lasting legacy of the German diaspora.
Variations of the surname Kühnhanss
The surname Kühnhanss has various variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin with some examples being Kuhnhanss, Kúhnhanss, Koonhanss, Cuhnhans, Kuhnhan, Koonhan, Cuhnhan and Kuonhan.
Kühnhanss is an occupational surname which originated in northern Germany from the Middle High German word "Künne", translating to 'artistic ability'. It is usually found in the areas of Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia.
Kühnhanss may also be found in its phonetic variations, for example Kuhnhanss, Kúhnhanss and Kühnhanș. All three represent the same pronunciation of the surname but the spelling changes due to different language regions.
The British and American versions of the surname are Cuhnhans and Cuhnhan respectively. Cuhnhans is likely a form of Kuhnhanss and Cuhnhan could be derived from both Kuhnhanss and Kühnhanș, as well as the English pronunciation of Kühnhanss.
In the Netherlands, the similar sounding Kuonhan or Kuonhan is found. This name is likely an adaptation of Kühnhanss and could also be linked to the Dutch word "koen", translating to 'bold' or 'brave'.
The ancient versions of the surname from Middle High German are Kunichans, Kúnicans, Künicans and Küninck. All of these have either evolved, or dropped from use, as more mistakenly spelled, phonetic variations of Kühnhanss emerged.
Famous people with the name Kühnhanss
- Gustav Kühnhanss: A German classical composer and conductor who was especially known for his works for wind instruments and ballet music.
- Hans Kühnhanss: A German geographer and explorer who explored parts of Mongolia and wrote widely on the region.
- Monica Kühnhanss: A German television and stage actress known for her roles in the television series “Verbotene Liebe” and “Rote Rosen.”
- Jan Kühnhanss: A German amateur photographer who was known for his black and white photography.
- Bernhard Kühnhanss: A German banker and politician who served as the mayor of Leipzig from 1923 to 1945.
- Christian Kühnhanss: A German politician and member of the Social Democratic party who served as a member of the German Bundestag from 1957 to 1967.
- Kristina Kühnhanss: A German cross-country skier who competed in the 1985 Winter Universiade.
- Wolfgang Kühnhanss: A German ice hockey player who played for the Berliner SC and represented Germany at the 1976 Winter Olympics.