Kuhfahl last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Kuhfahl

A surname derived from German words meaning "cowshed" or "cattle stall".

Kuhfahl, 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 Kuhfahl surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kuhfahl in America

Kuhfahl is the 149395th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kuhfahl surname appeared 110 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Kuhfahl.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kuhfahl 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 149395 127948 15.47%
Count 110 123 -11.16%
Proportion per 100k 0.04 0.05 -22.22%

The history of the last name Kuhfahl

The surname KUHFAHL originated in the northern regions of Germany, with its roots dating back to the 13th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old German word "kufe," which referred to a small wooden tub or barrel used for storing liquids. It is possible that the name was initially given as an occupational surname to someone involved in the production or transportation of such vessels.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the KUHFAHL name can be found in the Goslar town records from 1305, where a certain Heinrich Kuhfahl is mentioned as a resident. The name also appears in various other historical documents from the regions of Lower Saxony and Westphalia during the 14th and 15th centuries, with slight variations in spelling such as "Kuhfal," "Kuffahl," and "Kuhfall."

In the 16th century, the KUHFAHL name gained prominence when Johannes Kuhfahl (1508-1572), a renowned theologian and reformer from Wittenberg, played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation alongside Martin Luther. His writings and sermons were widely circulated and helped shape the religious landscape of the time.

Another notable figure bearing the KUHFAHL surname was Friedrich Kuhfahl (1720-1794), a German composer and organist who lived and worked in the city of Hamburg during the Baroque period. His compositions for organ and church music were highly regarded and contributed to the rich musical heritage of the region.

As the KUHFAHL family spread across various parts of Germany, the name also took on associations with specific locations. For instance, in the town of Grebenstein, near Kassel, there was a cluster of families bearing the KUHFAHL name, and the nearby valley was often referred to as the "Kuhfahltal" or "KUHFAHL Valley."

During the 19th century, the industrial revolution and subsequent migration patterns led to the dispersal of the KUHFAHL name across Europe and beyond. One notable example is Otto Kuhfahl (1853-1921), a German-born American entrepreneur who founded the Kuhfahl Wagon Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and contributed significantly to the local economy and transportation industry.

Throughout its history, the KUHFAHL surname has undergone various phonetic and orthographic changes, reflecting the linguistic diversity of the regions where its bearers have resided. While the name's origins can be traced back to the northern German lands, its legacy has been shaped by the countless individuals who have carried it forward, leaving an indelible mark on their respective communities and professions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kuhfahl

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

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 Kuhfahl was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 94.55% 104
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin 4.55% 5

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 Kuhfahl has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 94.55% 98.37% -3.96%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% 0.00% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Hispanic 4.55% (S)% (S)%

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 Kuhfahl was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Kuhfahl last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 16, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/kuhfahl-surname-popularity/.

"Kuhfahl last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/kuhfahl-surname-popularity/. Accessed 16 July, 2025

Kuhfahl last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/kuhfahl-surname-popularity/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.