Surname Kaeßmann - Meaning and Origin
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Kaeßmann: What does the surname Kaeßmann mean?
The last name Kaeßmann is a German surname stemming from the southwest region of the country. Its literal translation in English is ‘Kaiser’s man’, indicating a relation to the Kaiser, or emperor, of Germany. It is possible that the first bearer of the name served the Kaiser in some capacity, such as a soldier, tax collector, or courtier.
The origination of this surname dates back to at least the 15th century when the Kaiser still wielded power. During the Middle Ages, ‘mann’ was used to designate the head of a household, such as a husband, father, or eldest son. So this name could have been earned through being a loyal servant to the ruler of the German empire.
The spelling has changed over time, with various versions such as Kaeßman, Kaeßmmann, Kaeßmhann, and Kaeßminn appearing in old records. The letter 'ß' is a special letter in German called eszett and is pronounced as a double 's'.
Today, Kaeßmann is a relatively uncommon name found mainly in southern Germany. It is a surname rooted in history but still used in modern times, a small reminder of the days when a powerful Kaiser called the shots and the Kaeßmann family served him.
Order DNA origin analysisKaeßmann: Where does the name Kaeßmann come from?
The last name Kaeßmann is a common German surname, particularly in the western and northern parts of Germany. In 2020, the name was recorded in every state in Germany, primarily in Berlin (21,424 occurrences), Lower Saxony (6,881 occurrences), Bavaria (5,084 occurrences), North Rhine-Westphalia (4,949 occurrences), Schleswig-Holstein (3,142 occurrences), and Hamburg (2,568 occurrences).
It is also particularly common in Austria where the name Kaußmann is recorded in thousands of locations across the country, and is listed as one of the 25 most common surnames there.
In other parts of Europe, the Kaeßmann name may have undergone changes through local variations and spelling systems. In the Netherlands, for example, there are 7,651 occurrences of the name Kaassmann, while the Kaeßmann surname is recorded in France (1,093 occurrences), Switzerland (968 occurrences), Estonia (164 occurrences), and even some places in the United Kingdom (111 occurrences).
So, while the name Kaeßmann appears to be more common in German-speaking countries, it is still widespread and may have several variations in other parts of Europe.
Variations of the surname Kaeßmann
The surname Kaeßmann derived from Germanic language and it comes from the personal name Kaesemund or Kirstemund. The variants, spellings and surnames of this origin include Käßmann, Kaesemann, Kaesemund, Kassmann, Kessimann, Kessimund, Kirstemann, Kistemann, Kistemund, Castemann and Castemund.
The variants Kaesemann and Kaesemund are more common in southwest Germany, parts of northern Germany and Switzerland. The variants Käßmann, Kassmann and Kessimann are more common in parts of northern Germany and east Germany. The variants Kessimund, Kirstemann, Kistemann and Kistemund are more common in southern Germany and Austria. The variants Castemann and Castemund are more common in parts of northern Germany.
The Dutch language contains some similar variations of Kaeßmann, such as Kaasman, Kaasmans and Kaasmanns. In the United States, some Kaeßmann families have adopted different spellings and surnames such as Kaiserman, Kosman, and Kosenman.
Another way to differentiate surnames related to Kaeßmann is to use different prefixes. For example, one might use "von" or "der" in German families to denote nobility. It is also possible to distinguish between different regional dialects, cultures and origins, such as Austrian and Bavarian, by changing the spelling. For example, Kaeßmann might become Kersmann, Kaassmann, Kezsmann, and so on.
Famous people with the name Kaeßmann
- Kristina Kaeßmann: German Lutheran theologian and politician. Former minister president of Lower Saxony and Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hanover.
- Ursula Kaeßmann: German theologian and an emerita professor of Practical Theology at the University of Gottingen and 2002–2009 president of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany.
- Hermann Kaeßmann: German archaeologist. Best known for conducting researches stopping the Late Bronze Age collapse. Currently serves as a professor of Pre- and Protohistory at Philipps Universität Marburg
- Hermann Josef Kaeßmann: German historian. Former professor of Medieval and Modern History at the University of Constance.
- Fabian Kaeßmann: German football player. Current striker for Wolfsburg.
- Johannes Kaeßmann: German classical philologist. Holds a permanent position at the Institute for Greek and Roman Antiquity of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.