Find out how popular the last name Kahl is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Kahl.

Kahl, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Kahl surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kahl in America

Kahl is the 6508th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kahl surname appeared 5,215 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Kahl.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kahl to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Kahl

The surname KAHL originated in Germany and is believed to have derived from a medieval German word meaning "bald" or "hairless". It likely started as a nickname for someone who had little or no hair, which was then adopted as a hereditary surname.

The earliest recorded instances of the name KAHL can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Germany, particularly in areas like Bavaria and Saxony. Some of the earliest known spellings include Kale, Kahle, and Kahll.

In the 14th century, the name KAHL appeared in several historical records and documents, including the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of historical documents related to the Margraviate of Brandenburg. This suggests that individuals with the surname KAHL were present in that region during that time period.

One notable early bearer of the name KAHL was Johannes Kahl, a German scholar and theologian who lived in the 15th century (c. 1438-1508). He was known for his work on biblical exegesis and his teachings at the University of Leipzig.

Another historical figure with the surname KAHL was Johann Kahl, a German painter who lived in the 16th century (c. 1530-1600). He was known for his religious paintings and worked primarily in the city of Nuremberg.

In the 17th century, the name KAHL appeared in records related to the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), which ravaged parts of Germany. Many individuals with the surname KAHL were likely affected by the conflict and its aftermath.

One notable bearer of the name during this time was Hans Kahl, a German soldier and military leader who served in the Imperial Army during the Thirty Years' War (c. 1590-1650). He was known for his bravery and tactical skills in battle.

In the 18th century, the name KAHL was also found in various records and documents related to the German states and principalities, suggesting that individuals with this surname continued to have a presence in different regions of what is now modern-day Germany.

A notable figure from this time period was Johann Christian Kahl, a German composer and organist who lived from 1723 to 1794. He was known for his compositions for the organ and his work as a church musician in Leipzig.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kahl

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Kahl.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Kahl was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Kahl has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Kahl was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kahl, please contact us.

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