Keil Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Keil last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Keil last name
Meaning of the Keil last name: wedge. Keil is a German surname from Keil, "wedge", a nickname for a stocky, rough man or a name for someone who made or used wedges in woodwork. It is found across Germany, especially in Hesse, Thuringia and Saxony. Related last names include Keilmann and Keiler, built on the same word.
Arms associated with the Keil name
In German lands craftsmen used a coat of arms too, and heraldry associated with the Keil surname shares that civic tradition.
Get your full Keil family history
This is only a glimpse of the Keil story. The full Keil history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Keil coat of arms. Get the full Keil report.
Keil name FAQ
What does the Keil name mean?
Wedge. Common variants include Keilmann, Kiel.
Where does the Keil surname come from?
It originates in Germany, and is also found in the United States, Austria and Switzerland.
Is there a Keil coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Keil coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Duden Familiennamen; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).