Surname Kaerst - Meaning and Origin
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Kaerst: What does the surname Kaerst mean?
The last name Kaerst is of Germanic origin and is derived from the German word 'karsten', which means rocky. The name is also related to the word 'karst', which is an area of limestone or other rock featuring many caves and sinkholes. Over time, the spelling and pronunciation of Kaerst has become an anglicized version of its initial German form.
In early Germanic times, most people were identified by their job and profession, so Kaerst could have originally been a name associated with someone living in or near rocky areas and/or someone who worked in the trade of stone working. People bearing the surname Kaerst were most likely involved in the mining or quarrying of limestone, or in related trades such as building or sculpting excepts from it.
Today, the surname Kaerst is still a rather uncommon name concentrated mostly in Germany and nearby countries. The populations of Europe with the highest concentrations of Kaerst family members living within them are Austria, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands and Belgium.
In terms of heritage, those bearing the Kaerst surname can be credited to the region of northern Germany, and its various German-speaking states. The surname Kaerst also holds significance in Germany's culture, as it reflects the enduring legacy of the country’s strong track record in quarrying and building out of stone.
Order DNA origin analysisKaerst: Where does the name Kaerst come from?
Kaerst is a fairly uncommon last name, and it is difficult to determine exactly where it is the most common today. As a result, its primary geographical distribution is largely unknown.
Nevertheless, records of the Kaerst name in Europe, as well as the United States, suggest that it is most likely of German origin. It is also possible that the name originates in the Netherlands or Belgium, as there are also records of the name in those countries.
Indeed, in the Netherlands, cities such as Den Haag, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam all report a good number of Kaerst households. In the United States, the most common states appear to be New York, California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Given that Kaerst appears to have originated in Europe, it is likely that it is still more common in those parts of the world, particularly in the Netherlands and Germany. As to the exact areas of population, further research might be warranted.
Generally speaking, Kaerst appears to be a relatively uncommon surname, but its presence in the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States means that it likely has a widespread geographical distribution.
Variations of the surname Kaerst
Kaerst is a surname of German origin. The variants, spellings and surnames derived from Kaerst can include Carst, Kärst, Kaersten, Kärsten, Kaerster, Kärster, Kaerstings, Kärstings, Carey, Carrey, Keary, Karst, Karsten, Karster, Karstings, Kerst, Kersten, Kerster, Kerstings, Kheerst, Kerest, Kereste, Keresten, Kerester, Kerestings, Kjerst, Kjorst and Kjrst.
Kaerst appears to have derived from several personal names and place-names which include Karl, Karel, Karlst, Karelst and other similar names beginning with ‘karl’, meaning ‘man’ or ‘strong man’. The -st suffix is believed to denote a man ‘from’ a place, usually with the same name or similar.
The early forms of the Kaerst surname were Karle, Kerel, Karel, Karl, Karst, and Karsten. Patronymic versions of the name such as Karleson, Karlesdotter, Karlsson, and Karlsdotter also appear in early records. The Kaerst name can also be found in some instances with a hyphenated prefix such as ‘van-Kaerst’ and ‘von-Kaerst’ which may denote that the family was either of noble or lower nobility bloodlines or perhaps, were of landowners.
The numerous variants and spelling of the Kaerst surname can make researching the surname quite difficult. However, the popularity of genealogical research has enticed many family history enthusiasts to search for their ancestors and discover their connections and family histories.
Famous people with the name Kaerst
- Prince Ernst August of Hanover (born 1954), prince of the House of Hanover and head of the Herten-Kaerst branch of the Guelphic line.
- Adolf Kaerst (1871-1960), German antiquarian and science historian.
- Helmut Kaerst (1930s-2012), German jurist and lawyer.
- Gerhard Kaerst (1893-1942), German World War I fighter ace.
- Wilfred Kaerst (1912-1973), German drummer of the Kaerst Percussion Ensemble who performed with drum orchestras during the 1930s and 1940s.
- Lutz Kaerst (1948-2006), German theater and film director.
- Heinrich Kaerst (1873-1944), German professor of forestry and botany.
- Hubertus Kaerst (born 1966), former German long-distance runner who set several national records in the 1980s and 1990s.
- Martin Kaerst (born 1960), German sculptor and installation artist.
- Claus Kaerst (born 1928), German actor.