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

Kuhl, 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 Kuhl surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kuhl in America

Kuhl is the 5877th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kuhl surname appeared 5,872 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 Kuhl.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kuhl 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 Kuhl

The surname "KUHL" originated in Germany during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old German word "kuole," meaning "cool" or "cold." This likely referred to someone who lived in a cool or shaded area, or perhaps someone with a calm temperament.

The earliest known record of the Kuhl surname dates back to the 13th century in the German region of Saxony. In 1287, a document from the town of Weissenfels mentions a "Johannes Kuhl" among the local residents. Other early spellings include "Kuhle," "Kuhlen," and "Kule."

In the 14th century, the name appears in several historical records from various German cities and towns. In 1332, a "Heinrich Kuhle" is listed in the tax records of the city of Cologne. A "Dietrich Kule" is mentioned in a 1348 document from the town of Halberstadt.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the Kuhl surname was Johann Kuhl, a German botanist and zoologist born in 1765. He made significant contributions to the study of birds and wrote several important works on the subject.

Another noteworthy figure was Johann Gottfried Kuhl, born in 1805, who was a prominent German theologian and writer. He authored several books on religious topics and served as a pastor in the city of Berlin.

In the 19th century, Carl Ludwig Kuhl, born in 1822, was a German engineer and inventor. He is credited with developing several important innovations in the field of steam engine design.

The Kuhl name can also be found in various place names throughout Germany, such as Kuhlendorf (meaning "Kuhl's village") and Kuhlbach (meaning "Kuhl's creek").

Throughout its history, the surname Kuhl has been associated with individuals from various professions and walks of life, including academics, clergy, scientists, and craftsmen. While not as widespread as some other German surnames, it has maintained a presence in various regions of the country for centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kuhl

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

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

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

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