indicate the level to which a name has been verified.Type Surname (from location)
Usage Jewish (Ashkenazi)
Other Forms FormsKotzen, Katzenellenbogen, Katzenelnbogen
Meaning & History
Katzen is a variant of Kotzen, or a shortened version of Katzenellenbogen. Its origins can also be traced back to a habitational form of Katzenelnbogen. There is no clear answer of where this surname exactly came from. This name also means cats in German, but that is not where the surname comes from.