Show ContentsKettner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Kettner

What does the name Kettner mean?

Kettner is a name of Anglo-Saxon origin. It was a name given to a person who had acquired the nickname of the kite, which was originally derived from the Old English word cyta, referring to the "kite" the bird of prey. 1 2 In this case the original bearer of the surname earned this name due to their wild, and high-spirited nature.

Early Origins of the Kettner family

The surname Kettner was first found in Norfolk where Richard Kete was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1166. Years later, Richard Kyte was listed in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1243; William Ket in the Hundredorum Rolls for Norfolk in 1275; Peter le Kyte in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1327; and John Kette in the Subsidy Rolls for Cumberland in 1327. Ralph atte Kete was found in the Pipe Rolls for Kent in 1292. 3

In Yorkshire, Hugo Kyte was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 4 Again in Norfolk, but much later, John Kyte, was Rector of Wolferton in 1507. 5

Early History of the Kettner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kettner research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1483, 1485, 1507, 1513, 1521, 1524, 1526, 1534, 1535, 1537, 1540, 1547, 1549, 1589, 1616, 1632, 1638, 1660, 1662, 1668, 1688, 1702, 1710, 1713, 1714, 1724, 1725, 1739, 1741, 1745, 1755, 1761, 1766, 1783, 1784 and 1790 are included under the topic Early Kettner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kettner Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Kettner were recorded, including Kyte, Kite, Keyt, Keyte, Kight, Kyteson and others.

Early Notables of the Kettner family

Distinguished members of the family include Robert "Ben" Kett, an English yeoman farmer in Norfolk who joined rebels as their leader in what was later to be known as Kett's Rebellion on July 8th 1549; he was later tried for treason and hanged from the walls of Norwich Castle on 7 December 1549. He "was a member of an old Norman family...
Another 62 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kettner Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kettner Ranking

In the United States, the name Kettner is the 17,712nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Kettner family to Ireland

Some of the Kettner family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 165 words (12 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Kettner migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Kettner family emigrate to North America:

Kettner Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Geo Michael Kettner, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1733 7
  • Johan Kettner, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1733 7
  • George Michael Kettner, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1768 7
  • Joh Andreas Kettner, who arrived in America in 1783 7
Kettner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Georg Kettner, who arrived in Illinois in 1851 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Kettner (post 1700) +

  • Frederick Kettner (b. 1886), American author and professor of philosophy
  • William Kettner (1864-1930), American democratic politician from San Diego
  • William Kettner (1864-1930), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from California 11th District, 1913-21; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1916, 1924, 1928 8
  • Gerhard Kettner (b. 1928), German artist
  • Erich Kettner (b. 1901), well-known German linguist


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. 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)
  8. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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