Kuen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Germany
• Scotland

Etymology of Kuen

Similar to many Austrian family names, the distinguished surname Kuen 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 Kuen 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 Kuen family

Early History of the Kuen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kuen 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 Kuen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kuen 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 Kuen include Kuhn, Kuehn, Kuehne, Kuehnel, Cuhn, Cuehn, Cuehne and many more.

Early Notables of the Kuen family

August Kuehnel (1645-c.1700), who was a distinguished German composer and mastered the viola da gamba. Gottlieb Jakob Kuhn (1775-1849) was a Swiss clergyman and author of many dialectic...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kuen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Kuen 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 Kuen or a variant listed above: 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.