Contents [hide]

Kohl History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Kohl History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The origins of the proud surname Kohl 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 Kohl 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 Kohl 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 Kohl family

The surname Kohl 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 Kohl family

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

Kohl 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 Kohl family

During this early period, notable bearers of the name Kohl included

Augustin von Kohl, who was elected mayor of Zittau ten times before his death in 1598 at the age of 96

Kohl Ranking

In the United States, the name Kohl is the 4,089^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1

Kohl migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kohl Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johann Kohl, who left the Palatinate for England in 1709
Anna Barbara, Luis, Margaretha, and Nicolas Kohl all, who settled in South Carolina in 1732
Anna Barbara Kohl, aged 40, who arrived in South Carolina in 1732 2
Jaquer Kohl, aged 5, who arrived in South Carolina in 1732 2
Johann Georg Kohl, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kohl Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Jos Kohl, who arrived in Cincinnati, Oh in 1844 2
John Kohl, who landed in Maryland in 1847 2
Barbara Josephine Kohl, aged 31, who landed in New York, NY in 1852 2
Carl Kohl, aged 24, who arrived in New York, NY in 1852 2
Elis Kohl, aged 20, who landed in America in 1853 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kohl migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kohl Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Georg Kohl, who arrived in Quebec in 1852

Contemporary Notables of the name Kohl (post 1700) +

Herbert Hiken Kohl (1935-2023), American businessman, philanthropist, and Democratic politician from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States senator from Wisconsin, from 1989 to 2013, Chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin
Dorothy Watman Levine Kohl, American former tennis player active in the 1950s
Maxwell Kohl, American businessman and founder of Kohl's, the American department store retail chain in 1946, growing to have over 40,000 employees, the second largest department store in the United States
Sheryl Davis Kohl (b. 1962), American politician
Herbert Kohl (b. 1937), American educator and author of more than thirty books on education, founder of the Open School movement in the 1960s
Chantel Kohl, American singer
William Kohl, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Wisconsin, 1940 3
William Kohl, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Wisconsin, 1940 3
Norman G. Kohl, American politician, Mayor of Coldwater, Michigan, 1930-32 3
Joan Kohl, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1996 3
... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Kohl family +

Bismarck

Günther Kohl (1916-1941), German Maschinenmaat who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 4

Empress of Ireland

Miss Grace Margaret Kohl (1895-1914), Canadian First Class Passenger from Montreal, Quebec, Canada who survived the sinking on the Empress of Ireland 5

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html