Surname Kernen - Meaning and Origin

Using iGENEA DNA Test to Unravel the History and Trajectory of the Kernen Lineage

The iGENEA DNA test, consisting of the autosomal DNA test and the Y-DNA test, provided an in-depth exploration of my lineage and a heightened understanding of my surname, Kernen. The technical aspects of these tests and their accuracy filled the gaps in my awareness of my ancestral roots and elevated my appreciation for the history and trajectory of the Kernen lineage.

M. Kernen

Kernen: What does the surname Kernen mean?

The last name Kernen is of German origin. It is derived from the German word “Kerm,” which means “mushroom” or “fungus.” This name is most commonly found in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany, and a few other regions in Europe.

The first recorded example of the last name is from the 15th century, when an individual named Johann Kernn first appears on record. Over time, Kernen became one of the twenty most common surnames in the Rhineland area of Germany in the 19th century. This is a testament to how many people in the region adopted this name as part of their identity.

The German word “Kernen” also has historical and cultural significance. It was used to refer to craftspeople, especially those who were skilled at restoring or maintaining wooden furniture or other objects. As a result, Kernen came to refer to someone who had a creative or artistic eye for detail.

Kerning is also closely associated with the German region of Swabia. The name has been associated with many Swabian people who settled in Franconia, the area where Johannes Gutenberg first printed his famous bible. As a result, many Kernen descendants are descendants of the Gutenberg family.

Kernen is also similar to many other German names, such as Kernahan, Kornhager, and Kerten, which also derive from the German word “Kerm.” The last name Kernen can be found in many different countries, though it is most commonly found in Germany.

Kernen: Where does the name Kernen come from?

The surname Kernen is common in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. There is also a concentration of the name Kernen (Kernen-Klein in German) in the Netherlands. In Germany, the name is most common in the southwest region (Baden-Württemberg and Rheinland-Pfalz), particularly around the cities of Stuttgart and Mainz. In the Netherlands, the surname is most common in the northern province of Noord-Brabant.

The name Kernen is derived from the Old High German words "karo", meaning "proud", and "-heim", meaning "home". It is likely to have been used as an occupational name for a tenant farmer who also had rights of inheritance.

The surname Kernen also appears in records in the United States, where it is usually anglicized to Kerney. Records from the late 1800s and early 1900s suggest that many immigrants from Germany and the Netherlands bearing the name settled in Pennsylvania and other nearby states in the eastern part of the US.

The presence of the surname Kernen around the world today simply reflects its long history. It has played its part in the migrations of people from continental Europe to new lands, with the Netherlands and the United States being two of the main destinations.

Variations of the surname Kernen

Kernen is an old German surname with a variety of spellings and variants, many of which are likely based on a regional dialect pronunciation. The most common variants include Kernan, Kernon, Kernin, Karnein, Karnen, and Karnan. However, there are many other regional variants of the Kernen surname such as Cernan, Cernin, Cernel, Cernunn, Kerne, Kernee, Kernie, and Kernig.

The ancient German Kernen surname probably derived from the Middle High German meaning “to comb” and was one of many occupational surnames used by village craftsmen. The Kernen surname is likely of the same origin as the Dutch surname Kören, which derived from the Dutch word “koren” meaning “corn” or “grain” and likely referred to a farmer or miller. Similarly, the Italian surname Cervino is likely of the same origin, derived from the Italian word “cervo” which means “deer” and likely referred to a hunter or trapper.

The Kernen surname is also related to other German surnames such as Kern and Kerneur, as well as the Jewish surname Keren, which derived from the Hebrew word “Keren,” meaning “horn” and likely referred to someone who worked in the horn trade. Additionally, the surname Kernen has a Swedish variant, Kernenheim, which is derived from an old Swedish word meaning “household.” Finally, the Kernen surname can also be found in England, where it is spelled Kernan.

Famous people with the name Kernen

• Steve Kernen: an American financial journalist and television host
• Carl Kernen: an American professional baseballer
• Robert Kernen: an American actor
• Peter Kernen: an Austrian sound engineer
• Marius Kernen: a German organist and composer
• Alfred Kernen: a Swiss industrialist
• Christopher Kernen: an Australian actor and voice artist
• Wilhelm Kernen: a German actor
• Francisco Kernen: a Spanish playwright
• Brook Kernen: an American stand-up comedian and television actor

Other surnames

KernekKernerKernertKerney