Kohn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Belgium
Germany
Israel

The name Kohn is a proud symbol of ancient Jewish culture. Before the late Middle Ages, 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. Jewish hereditary surnames were adopted from a variety of different sources. Many people, such as the Kohn family, adopted the name of their occupation as their surname. However, an occupational name did not become a hereditary surname until the office or type of employment became hereditary. The name Kohn is derived from the Hebrew word kohen, which means priest. This name is found among Ashkenazic, Sefardic, and other Jewish groups. Jewish priests were traditionally regarded as members of a hereditary caste that descended from Aaron, the brother of Moses.

Kohn Ranking

In the United States, the name Kohn is the 4,305^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Kohn is ranked the 7,002^nd most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 2

Kohn migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kohn Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Joanis Kohn, aged 30, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 3
Henrich Kohn, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 3
Adam Kohn, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1762 3
George Kohn, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1765 3
A H Kohn, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1794 3

Kohn Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Levy Kohn, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1804 3
Joseph Kohn, aged 41, who arrived in Missouri in 1840 3
Erdmann Friedrich Kohn, aged 27, who landed in America in 1844 3
Miss Elisab. Kohn, aged 18, who arrived in New Orleans in 1845 aboard the ship "Agnes"
Johann Friedrich Kohn, aged 42, who landed in America in 1846 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kohn migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Kohn Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

J.S. Kohn, a clerk, who arrived in South Australia in 1848 aboard the ship "Victoria" 4

Kohn migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Kohn Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Mary Kohn, (b. 1858), aged 4 months, German settler from German y travelling from London aboard the ship "Strathallan" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st January 1859 5
Mr. Frederick Kohn, (b. 1827), aged 31, German farm labourer from German y travelling from London aboard the ship "Strathallan" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st January 1859 5
Mrs. Cathe Kohn, (b. 1830), aged 28, German settler from German y travelling from London aboard the ship "Strathallan" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st January 1859 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Kohn (post 1700) +

Dan Kohn (1972-2020), American serial entrepreneur and nonprofit executive, founder of NetMarket
Walter Kohn (b. 1923), distinguished American (German born) Professor of Physics
Eugene Kohn (1887-1977), American rabbi
Alfie Kohn, American lecturer and author
Isar T. Kohn, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Indiana 13th District, 1910 6
Herman F. Kohn, American politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Erie County 2nd District, 1930 6
Henry H. Kohn, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1908, 1916 (alternate), 1936 (alternate); Member of Illinois Republican State Central Committee, 1919 6
Helen Kohn, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1972 6
George A. Kohn (1885-1963), American Republican politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Montcalm County, 1950-54 6
Clarence Kohn, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 1916 6
... (Another 19 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Kohn family +

Bismarck

Walter Köhn (1920-1941), German Matrosenobergefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 7

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) VICTORIA 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848Victoria.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
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