Kunes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Similar to many Austrian family names, the distinguished surname Kunes 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 name Kunes is derived from the Old German name Conrad, which is composed of the elements "kuoni," meaning "daring" or "brave," and "rad," meaning "counsel."

Early Origins of the Kunes family

The surname Kunes was first found in Austria, where the family gained a significant reputation for its contributions to the emerging mediaeval society. The name became prominent as many branches of the family founded separate houses and acquired estates in various regions, always elevating their social status by their great contributions to society.

Early History of the Kunes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kunes research. Another 240 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1540, 1645, 1687, 1700, 1726, 1748, 1770, 1775, 1806, 1849 and 1857 are included under the topic Early Kunes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kunes Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Kunes include Kuhn, Kuehn, Kuehne, Kuehnel, Cuhn, Cuehn, Cuehne and many more.

Early Notables of the Kunes family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Kunes were August Kuehnel (1645-c.1700), who was a distinguished German composer and mastered the viola da gamba. Gottlieb Jakob Kuhn...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kunes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Kunes family

After the First World War, Austria became a republic. The Treaty of Versailles broke up the empire in 1919 and many of the Sudeten Germans were incorporated into the new nation of Czechoslovakia. In the 20th century, many Austrians migrated to other parts of Germany or Europe, as well as to North America. In the United States, the majority of settlers landed in Philadelphia, and moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Many German settlers also migrated to Canada, particularly Ontario and the Prairies. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Kunes were Casper and Anna Kuhn, who came to Carolina and/or Philadelphia with their daughter in 1739. Casper Kuehn landed in Philadelphia in 1779 at the age of 35.

Contemporary Notables of the name Kunes (post 1700) +

Eugene Laverne Kunes (1909-1965), American professional PGA golfer in the 1930s through the 1940s, winner of the 1935 Canadian Open