Surname Kinapfel - Meaning and Origin
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Kinapfel: What does the surname Kinapfel mean?
The surname Kinapfel is an occupational surname of German origin. It is derived from the German phrase ‘kinap’, meaning ‘basket’, and ‘fel’, meaning ‘maker’. This suggests that the original bearer of this name was a person who made baskets or some other objects or containers out of plants, such as animal skins, or from other materials such as clay, wood, or metal.
In the Middle Ages, the name was associated with the craft of basketmaking. People who lived in the areas and villages where this practice was common gave the name Kinapfel to their children. This indicates that the original bearer of this surname had a close relationship with plants and was skilled in the craft of basket-making, a trade which was important in medieval crafts and commerce.
In Germany, Kinapfel is still a rare surname and it is mainly concentrated around the states of Hesse, Bavaria, and Rhineland-Palatinate. Those with the name often trace their genealogical roots back to the medieval town of Erfurt where basketmakers were especially important during the Middle Ages.
Over time, variations of the name have been used, such as Kenapfel, Kinapfel, and Kienapfel. There is also a Jewish variant which uses the Hebrew name Kenap which was used during the time of the Holocaust.
Today, people with the surname Kinapfel are scattered throughout the world. It is a reminder of the hands that once carefully wove baskets, representing the collaborative effort and excellence of craftsmanship that is still found in German culture.
Order DNA origin analysisKinapfel: Where does the name Kinapfel come from?
The last name Kinapfel is predominantly found in Germany and Austria today. It is estimated that around 600 people bearing the name Kinapfel live in Germany, while twice as many, approximately 1,200, live in Austria. There are also a small number of people with that name living in other countries, such as the United States.
In Germany, the most common region for people with the surname Kinapfel is the Bavarian region. The northwest part of Bavaria is home to about a quarter of all Kinapfels in Germany. In addition, the southern area of the country around the cities of Augsburg, Chemnitz, and Nuremberg also have a significant number of people with this surname.
In Austria, the province of Styria has the highest number of Kinapfels, followed by Upper Austria and Vienna. The Germanic-speaking regions of the country are also where the name is most commonly found.
The last name Kinapfel can also be found in the US, with thousands of Americans tracing their heritage back to German-speaking regions of the continent today. The states of California and New York are particularly common, as are the states of Pennsylvania and Minnesota.
In summary, the last name Kinapfel is most common in Germany and Austria today, with a small number of people bearing the name living in other countries, such as the United States. It is found particularly in the Bavarian region of Germany and the Germanic-speaking parts of Austria, as well as in the US states of California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota.
Variations of the surname Kinapfel
The surname Kinapfel is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German term ‘Küneffenphenne’ which means ‘a tall drink pitcher’. The variants, spellings, and other surnames associated with this name include Knapfel, Knaepfel, Kneipfel, Kneippfel, Kneippel, Kneipel, Kneippl, Kneppfel, Kneppl, Kniffel, Knippel, Knippel, Knipfel, Knöpfel, Knyppl, Kunffenphen, Künepfel, Künippfel, Künippel, Künippl, Künneffel, Künneipel, Künschphenn, and Künschphel.
There are also several regional spelling variants of this surname in Germany. The spellings in Austria include Kneppfel, Knippfel, and Kunstenphen. In Brandenburg, the variation is ‘Knippel’ while in Prussia the variants are Kneippl and Kneppl. In Rhineland and western Germany, the spellings used are Knipfel, Knöpfel, Knyppl, Künepfel, Künippfel, Künippel, and Künippl. In Saxony the variation is Künneffel and in Thuringia the variant is Künneipel.
Other surnames derived from Kinapfel include Kunffenphen, Künschphenn, and Künschphel. These alternate spellings and variants of the Kinapfel surname are derived from places that had names which contained the prefix 'Kun(e)f' or 'Künsch'.
Famous people with the name Kinapfel
- Samuel Kinapfel: French actor, producer, and screenwriter
- Yudit Kinapfel: Israeli cinematographer, director, and writer
- Jay Kinapfel: German-born American sculptor
- Debbie Kinapfel: American politician and state legislator
- Walter Kinapfel: Austrian-born Austrian-American Naval engineer
- Sydni Kinapfel: American professional dancer
- Michael Kinapfel: German composer and musical conductor
- Paul Kinapfel: Austrian-born American entrepreneur and businessman
- Rosie Kinapfel: English actress, model, and author
- Franz Kinapfel: Austrian-born German-American classical pianist