Kahne
A German/Jewish occupational surname derived from the word "Kahn" meaning a boat or ship.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 206 Americans carry the last name Kahne. That puts it at #104,156 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,663,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Kahne surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
206
1 in 1,663,856
Census rank
#104,156
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
172
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 172 bearers of the surname Kahne in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 104156th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Kahne, the largest self-reported group is White at 100.0%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Kahne
The surname KAHNE originates from Germany and is believed to have been derived from the Old High German word "channa," which means "pot" or "vessel." This name likely referred to an occupation or trade related to pottery or metalworking in the early medieval period.
The earliest known record of the KAHNE surname dates back to the 13th century in the region of Bavaria, Germany. It was initially spelled as "Kanne" or "Kahn," with variations in spelling occurring over time due to regional dialects and scribal errors.
One notable historical reference to the KAHNE name can be found in the "Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis," a compilation of historical documents from the Margraviate of Brandenburg, dating back to the 14th century. This record mentions a certain "Johannes Kanne" in an official document from the year 1375.
In the 16th century, the KAHNE surname appeared in the town of Neustadt an der Waldnaab in Bavaria, where a family of potters and metalworkers resided. This connection to the name's occupational roots is evident in the town's records from that era.
A prominent figure bearing the KAHNE surname was Johann Kahne (1549-1615), a German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation in Germany. He served as a pastor in Nuremberg and actively participated in religious debates and discussions of his time.
Another notable individual was Friedrich Kahne (1777-1854), a German lawyer and legal scholar who made significant contributions to the field of criminal law. He served as a professor at the University of Berlin and authored several influential works on legal theory and practice.
In the 19th century, the KAHNE surname gained recognition through the achievements of August Kahne (1823-1897), a German botanist and horticulturist who specialized in the study of ferns and orchids. He made important contributions to the classification and cultivation of these plant species.
Ernst Kahne (1870-1942) was a German architect and urban planner who played a key role in the development of modern urban planning principles. He worked on several large-scale housing projects and designed notable buildings in Berlin and other German cities.
Additionally, the KAHNE surname has been associated with various place names in Germany, such as Kahnsdorf, a village in Saxony-Anhalt, and Kahnefeld, a former municipality in Thuringia, which may have derived their names from individuals bearing this surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Kahne
Among Census respondents with the surname Kahne, the largest self-reported group is White at 100.0%.
The bar chart below shows how Kahne bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Kahne surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White100.0%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Kahne surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #104,156 | #104,156 | 0.0% |
| Count | 172 | 172 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Kahne bearers went from 172 to 172 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #104,156 to #104,156.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Kahne
FAQ
Kahne surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Kahne?
The surname Kahne holds position #104,156 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 206 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Kahne surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Kahne, the largest self-reported group is White at 100.0%. These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.