Käfigen

Käfigen is the name of several localities in German-speaking regions. The toponym is attested in medieval and early modern records and is associated with the noun Käfig, meaning cage or pen. The suffix -en is common in German place names, contributing to the sense of multiple enclosures or a locality derived from an enclosure.

In terms of distribution, Käfigen appears primarily in Germany, with small villages or district subdivisions embedded within larger municipalities. The places share typical characteristics of rural Central European areas: agricultural land use, scattered settlement patterns, and local infrastructure centered on a church, a village hall, and farmsteads. Economies are largely influenced by farming, forestry, and small-scale commerce; many residents commute to nearby towns.

History and toponymy: The name appears in various forms in historical documents from the late Middle Ages to early modern times, reflecting shifts in spelling. The toponym often indicates a landscape feature such as fenced fields, stock enclosures, or a protected area rather than a fortress.

Demographics and administration: As small rural localities, populations are commonly in the hundreds or fewer. They are typically administered as part of a larger town or district, with local traditions centered on agriculture and regional festivals.

See also: Käfig (disambiguation), cage as a topographic term.