NameCensus.

UK surname

Kohler

A German occupational surname derived from the Middle High German word "kolære," meaning "charcoal burner."

In the 1881 census there were 181 people recorded with the Kohler surname, ranking it #13,690 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 352, ranked #13,104, up from #13,690 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Edinburgh and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, Canterbury and Richmond upon Thames.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kohler is 384 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 94.5%.

1881 census count

181

Ranked #13,690

Modern count

352

2016, ranked #13,104

Peak year

2010

384 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kohler had 181 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,690 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 352 in 2016, ranked #13,104.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 262 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Kohler surname distribution map

The map shows where the Kohler surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Kohler surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kohler over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 54 #23,577
1861 historical 51 #27,498
1881 historical 181 #13,690
1891 historical 167 #17,006
1901 historical 262 #12,740
1911 historical 258 #12,614
1997 modern 322 #12,914
1998 modern 338 #12,829
1999 modern 345 #12,755
2000 modern 344 #12,722
2001 modern 331 #12,869
2002 modern 335 #13,020
2003 modern 312 #13,467
2004 modern 322 #13,260
2005 modern 323 #13,133
2006 modern 336 #12,842
2007 modern 346 #12,689
2008 modern 355 #12,565
2009 modern 355 #12,832
2010 modern 384 #12,374
2011 modern 358 #12,883
2012 modern 351 #12,942
2013 modern 373 #12,550
2014 modern 361 #12,979
2015 modern 358 #12,942
2016 modern 352 #13,104

Geography

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Where Kohlers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Edinburgh, Lambeth and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, Canterbury, Richmond upon Thames and Lambeth. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 004 Powys
2 Canterbury 004 Canterbury
3 Canterbury 005 Canterbury
4 Richmond upon Thames 008 Richmond upon Thames
5 Lambeth 021 Lambeth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kohler

These lists show first names that appear often with the Kohler surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kohler

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kohler, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Kohler surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Kohler household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Kohler is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kohler is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kohler falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kohler is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Kohler, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kohler

The surname Kohler originated in Germany, first appearing in records as early as the 13th century. It is derived from the German word "kohler," which means a charcoal burner or collier. This occupation was essential in medieval times when charcoal was the primary fuel source for heating and metalworking.

The name Kohler can be traced back to various regions of Germany, including Bavaria, Saxony, and Silesia. It is believed that the earliest bearers of the name were individuals who worked as charcoal burners or lived near areas where charcoal was produced.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Kohler can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of medieval documents from Saxony, dating back to 1285. This document refers to a certain "Cunradus Koler," suggesting that the name had already been established by that time.

In the 14th century, the name Kohler appeared in various cities and towns across Germany, such as Nuremberg, Augsburg, and Leipzig. Some notable individuals bearing the name during this period include Johannes Kohler, a merchant from Nuremberg (1349-1412), and Hans Kohler, a craftsman from Augsburg (1376-1442).

As the name spread throughout Germany, various spelling variations emerged, including Koehler, Köhler, and Koegler. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and local pronunciations.

In the 16th century, the name Kohler gained prominence with the rise of the Reformation movement. One of the most notable figures was Johann Kohler (1518-1572), a Lutheran theologian and reformer from Saxony, who played a significant role in the spread of Protestantism in Germany.

Another notable bearer of the name was Johann David Kohler (1684-1755), a German jurist and professor of law at the University of Göttingen. His work, "Corpus Juris Cambialis," published in 1719, became a highly influential treatise on commercial law.

As people migrated across Europe and beyond, the surname Kohler spread to other regions, including Switzerland, France, and eventually to the Americas. Some famous individuals with the name Kohler include Gustav Kohler (1819-1892), a Swiss politician and President of the Swiss Confederation, and John Michael Kohler (1844-1900), the founder of the Kohler Company, a leading manufacturer of plumbing products based in Wisconsin, USA.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kohler families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kohler surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 65 Kohlers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.62x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 65 3.62x
Surrey 38 4.34x
Kent 14 2.29x
Midlothian 14 5.82x
Lancashire 12 0.56x
Yorkshire 8 0.45x
Sussex 7 2.31x
Essex 6 1.69x
Gloucestershire 5 1.42x
Berkshire 3 2.23x
Channel Islands 3 5.64x
Lanarkshire 3 0.52x
Hampshire 2 0.54x
Devon 1 0.27x
Fife 1 0.94x
Glamorgan 1 0.32x
Hertfordshire 1 0.81x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 23 Kohlers recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.70x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 23 14.70x
Bethnal Green London 10 12.83x
Lewisham 9 27.56x
Oldham 9 13.09x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 8 8.27x
Shoreditch London 8 10.28x
Tottenham 8 27.98x
Battersea 7 10.60x
Brighton 6 9.83x
Paddington London 6 9.09x
Bristol St Augustine 5 88.03x
Camberwell 5 4.36x
Hackney London 5 4.97x
Hendon 5 77.40x
Stoke Newington London 5 35.77x
Bradford 4 9.29x
Edinburgh Canongate 4 65.36x
Folkestone 4 33.67x
West Ham 4 5.11x
Glasgow 3 2.91x
Liverpool 3 2.32x
St Anne 3 315.79x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 2 32.89x
Chelsea London 2 3.70x
Hampstead London 2 7.16x
Mile End Old Town London 2 5.24x
Mitcham 2 36.17x
St George Hanover Square 2 6.33x
St George In East London 2 11.85x
St Pancras London 2 1.38x
Warfield 2 163.93x
Westminster St James 2 10.84x
Cameron 1 161.29x
Cardiff St Mary 1 5.81x
Colchester St Botolph 1 33.22x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 20.04x
Heaton 1 52.36x
Holy Trinity St Mary 1 36.90x
Islington London 1 0.57x
Kensington London 1 1.00x
Kingston On Thames 1 4.76x
Leith North 1 217.39x
Leyton Low 1 13.89x
Marcham 1 208.33x
Milton In Gravesend 1 10.89x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 3.47x
Portsmouth 1 11.81x
Southampton St Mary 1 4.32x
Southwick 1 62.50x
St Giles In Fields London 1 11.35x
Tring 1 30.30x
Westminster St John 1 4.57x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kohler surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Sarah 5
Emma 4
Ann 3
Elizabeth 3
Florence 3
Louisa 3
Alice 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Eliza 2
Honor 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Amy 1
Anna 1
Antonitte 1
Beatrice 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Celia 1
Charlott 1
Charlotte 1
Christine 1
Constance 1
Elimy 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth. 1
Elsie 1
Emily 1
Emmiline 1
Estell 1
Francis 1
Frangustina 1
Frederika 1
Fredrica 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Jacob 1
Jane 1
Julianne 1
Justina 1
Kate 1
Katharine 1
Laura 1
Lina 1
Lottie 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Margeret 1
Marie 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Kohler surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 9
Henry 7
Frederick 6
Augustus 4
Christopher 4
George 4
John 4
Charles 3
Albert 2
Herman 2
Jacob 2
Oscar 2
Thomas 2
Abraham 1
Adolph 1
Adolphus 1
Arthur 1
August 1
Bernard 1
Bernhard 1
Carl 1
Conrad 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
G.C.A. 1
Herbert 1
Hugo 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Josse 1
Leopold 1
Ludwig 1
Martin 1
Peter 1
Raphaell 1
Ricardo 1
Rich. 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Rudolf 1
Salues 1
Sidney 1
Simond 1
Stanislaus 1
Wilhelm 1

FAQ

Kohler surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kohler surname in 1881?

In 1881, 181 people were recorded with the Kohler surname. That placed it at #13,690 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kohler surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 352 in 2016. That gives Kohler a modern rank of #13,104.

What does the Kohler surname mean?

A German occupational surname derived from the Middle High German word "kolære," meaning "charcoal burner."

What does the Kohler map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kohler bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.