The Kiefer Surname
Kiefer Name Meaning and History
- German: occupational name for a cooper or the overseer of a wine cellar, from an agent derivative of Middle High German kuofe ‘vat’, ‘barrel’ (from Latin cupa).
- from an agent derivative of Middle High German kiffen ‘to quarrel’, hence a nickname for a bickerer.
- Jewish (Ashkenazic): ornamental name from German Kiefer ‘pine tree’. This word, which is first attested in the early 15th century, is a blend of kien and forhe, both meaning ‘pine’. The two elements still have a separate existence: kieboom is the Dutch term for a pine tree, while in many parts of Germany the word for the tree is Föhre.
Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4
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