Show ContentsKolbe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Kolbe family

The surname Kolbe was first found in Prussia, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. Always prominent in social affairs, the name Kolbe became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation.

Early History of the Kolbe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kolbe research. Another 106 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1786 and 1818 are included under the topic Early Kolbe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kolbe Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Kolbe, Koelbe, Kolb, Colb, Colbe, Gollbe, Golbe and others.

Early Notables of the Kolbe family

Notable figures of the time with the name Kolbe were

  • the Barons Kolbe


United States Kolbe migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kolbe Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Christoph Kolbe, who landed in America in 1778 1
Kolbe Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Joh Casp Kolbe, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1800 1
  • Hermann Kolbe, who arrived in America in 1832 1
  • Daniel Kolbe, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1844-1845 1
  • Bernard Kolbe, who arrived in Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Hamilton" 1
  • Carl Julius Kolbe, who arrived in Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Hamilton" 1
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Kolbe Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Anton Kolbe, who arrived in Arkansas in 1906 1

Canada Kolbe migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kolbe Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • N H Kolbe, who arrived in Quebec in 1850

Contemporary Notables of the name Kolbe (post 1700) +

  • James Thomas "Jim" Kolbe (1942-2022), American businessman and politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona (1985-2007)
  • Walter Kolbe, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Arizona, 1956 2
  • Tom Kolbe, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Colorado 6th District, 1992 2
  • Joseph W. Kolbe, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives 51st District, 1968 2
  • Harold H. Kolbe, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Illinois 10th District, 1946 2
  • Evelyn Kolbe, American Democratic Party politician, Chair of Oceana County Democratic Party, 2003 2
  • David L. Kolbe, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 2004, 2008 2
  • Peter-Michael Kolbe (1953-2023), German rower who specialized in the single sculls winning five world titles and three Olympic silver medals, in 1976, 1984, and 1988
  • Fritz Kolbe (1900-1971), German diplomat and spy against the Nazis during World War II
  • Adolph Wilhelm Hermann Kolbe (1818-1884), German chemist who worked on the electrolysis of the salts of fatty and other acids (Kolbe electrolysis), prepared salicylic acid, a building block of aspirin


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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