Koehl History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The origins of the proud surname Koehl can be traced to the historic kingdom of Bohemia, which is now part of Czechoslovakia. In the Middle Ages, Bohemia was a part of the Holy Roman Empire, which was characterized by the Feudal System. Before this era, people were known only by a single name. However, as the population increased and travelers set out on their journeys, it became necessary for people to adopt a second name to identify themselves. Many people, such as the Koehl family, adopted the name of their feudal occupation as their surname. However, an occupational name did not become a hereditary surname until the office or type of employment became hereditary. The Koehl name derives from the Old German word "cholo," which meant "cabbage;" the surname was an occupational name for a person who grew or sold cabbages.

Early Origins of the Koehl family

The surname Koehl was first found in Bohemia, where the family became noted for its many branches within the region, many houses acquiring a status and influence which rivaled that of the landed aristocracy. In their later history some branches were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they distinguished themselves through their contributions to the social, political, and economic developments of the nation. The literal meaning of this name is "cabbage" and thus "cabbage farmer," and is to be differentiated from the name Kohler or Koehler, which means "coal miner."

Early History of the Koehl family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Koehl research. Another 354 words (25 lines of text) covering the years 1548, 1594, 1598, 1777 and 1816 are included under the topic Early Koehl History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Koehl Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Kohl, Kohle, Koehl (Swabia), Koel, Kol, Koehll, Koehle, Khole and many more.

Early Notables of the Koehl family

Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Koehl Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Koehl Ranking

In France, the name Koehl is the 4,159^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 1

Koehl migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Koehl Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Wilhelm Koehl, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1850 2
Chr Koehl, who landed in Galveston, Tex in 1851 2
Georg Koehl, aged 40, who arrived in New York, NY in 1852 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Koehl (post 1700) +

Mimi A. R. Koehl, American marine biologist, professor at University of California, Berkeley, and head of the Koehl Lab
William R. Koehl, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 7th District, 1908, 1910 3

Citations +

http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html