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Kuhn History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Sources

Kuhn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Israel

Etymology of Kuhn

What does the name Kuhn mean?

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

The surname Kuhn 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 Kuhn family

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

Kuhn Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Kuhn include Kuhn, Kuehn, Kuehne, Kuehnel, Cuhn, Cuehn, Cuehne and many more.

Early Notables of the Kuhn family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Kuhn were

Gottlieb Jakob Kuhn (1775-1849) was a Swiss clergyman and author of many dialectic poems of folk-song character...

Kuhn Ranking

In the United States, the name Kuhn is the 1,269^th most popular surname with an estimated 24,870 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Kuhn is ranked the 1,365^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,179 people with that name. 2

Kuhn migration to the United States +

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 Kuhn were

Kuhn Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Conrad Kuhn, who arrived in New York in 1709 3
Mattheus Kuhn, who landed in New York in 1709-1710 3
Valentine Kuhn, who landed in New York, NY in 1710-1714 3
Abraham Kuhn, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1733 3
Casper Kuhn, who arrived in Carolina in 1739 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kuhn Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Gabriel Kuhn, who landed in Maryland in 1806 3
Xavier Kuhn, aged 32, who arrived in Missouri in 1840 3
Christine Kuhn, aged 35, who arrived in America in 1843 3
Mr. Theo Wilh. Kuhn, aged 29, from Germany who arrived in Galveston, Texas aboard the ship "Ferdinand" in 1844
Mr. Ludw. Kuhn, aged 32, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Garonne"
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kuhn Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Maria Kuhn, aged 13, who arrived in New York, NY in 1902 3
Gottfried Kuhn, aged 1, who landed in New York, NY in 1902 3
Emmanuel Kuhn, aged 4, who landed in New York, NY in 1902 3

Kuhn migration to Australia +

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

Kuhn Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Godlove Kuhn, aged 37, who arrived in South Australia in 1847 aboard the ship "Gellert" 4
Elisabeth Kuhn, aged 26, who arrived in South Australia in 1848 aboard the ship "Alfred" 5

Kuhn 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:

Kuhn Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Louis Kuhn, aged 27, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Eveline" in 1865 6
Augusta Kuhn, aged 24, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Eveline" in 1865 6
Hannah Kuhn, aged 2, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Eveline" in 1865 6
Catherine Kuhn, aged 25, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Eveline" in 1865 6
Mrs. Catherine Kuhn, South African settler travelling from Cape Town aboard the ship "Eveline" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 22nd January 1865 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Kuhn (post 1700) +

Theodore Matthew Michael "Mickey" Kuhn Jr. (1932-2022), American child actor, most noted for having played Beau Wilkes in Gone with the Wind (1939)
Steve Kuhn (b. 1938), American jazz pianist and composer
John Allen Kuhn (b. 1982), American NFL football fullback for the Green Bay Packers
Bradley M. Kuhn (b. 1973), American free software activist, current Executive Director of the Software Freedom Conservancy
Alvin Boyd Kuhn (1880-1963), American scholar of mythology and linguistics from Franklin County, Pennsylvania
Thomas Kuhn (b. 1922), renowned American professor of Philosophy with an interest in the field of science
Judy Kuhn (b. 1958), American three-time Tony award winning and Obie Award winning singer and actress
Harold W. Kuhn (b. 1925), American mathematician, 1980 John von Neumann Theory Prize winner, developed Kuhn poker
Bowie Kuhn (1927-2007), American former Major League Baseball commissioner
Johannes Kühn (1934-2023), German Poet
... (Another 11 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Kuhn family +

Bismarck

Willi Kühn (b. 1920), German Maschinenobergefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck (1941) during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he survived the sinking 8
Wilhelm Kühn (1918-1941), 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 8
Peter Kuhn (1910-1941), German Verwaltungsoberfeldweb. who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 8
Hermann Kühn (1920-1941), German Maschinengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 8
Karl Kuhn (1923-2004), German Matrosenobergefreiter serving aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he survived the sinking 8
... (Another 3 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

USS Arizona

Mr. Harold J. Kuhn, American Seaman First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 9

USS Indianapolis

Clair Joseph Kuhn, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 10

Sources +

"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) GELLERT 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Gellert.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ALFRED 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848Alfred.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 4th November 2011). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.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
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew