Show ContentsKoeppen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Similar to many Austrian family names, the distinguished surname Koeppen is a proud sign of a rich and ancient ancestry. The earliest forms of hereditary surnames in Austria were the patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father's given name and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the mother's given name. The patronyms were derived from a variety of given names that were of many different origins. The surname Koeppen is derived from the Hebrew personal name Jacob, meaning supplanter.

Early Origins of the Koeppen family

The surname Koeppen was first found in Austria, where the family rose to prominence early in the mediaeval era. From the 13th century the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the nation.

Early History of the Koeppen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Koeppen research. Another 185 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1804, 1816 and 1849 are included under the topic Early Koeppen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Koeppen Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Koeppen include Kopp, Koepp, Kop, Koep, Koppe, Koeppe, Kope, Koepe, Koeppen, Koppen and many more.

Early Notables of the Koeppen family

More information is included under the topic Early Koeppen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Koeppen family

Austria was made a republic after the First World War. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was broken up by the Treaty of Versailles and many of its people found themselves in the new nation of Czechoslovakia. Many other Austrians and expatriate Austrians made their way to North America in the 20th century. Most landed in Philadelphia, later continuing on to the states of Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Some Austrian settlers also went to western Canada and Ontario. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Koeppen or a variant listed above: Johann Kopp, who came to America in 1738; Erdman Koppe, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1748; as did Ulrich Koppe in 1749 and Jacob Kopp in 1751; Johann Kopper, who settled on Long Island in 1780.


Contemporary Notables of the name Koeppen (post 1700) +

  • Wolfgang Arthur Reinhold Koeppen (1906-1996), German novelist
  • Jens Koeppen (b. 1962), German politician
  • Hans Friedrich Wilhelm Hugo Koeppen (1876-1948), German officer in the Prussian army, and a participant in the first car race around the world
  • Ernst Koeppen, prominent politician in Berlin
  • Brigadier Alan Koeppen Wendt (1892-1977), Commanding Officer 6th Australian Cavalry Brigade from 1937 to 1942 [1]


  1. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, September 8) Alan Wendt. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Wendt/Alan_Koeppen/Australia.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook