Surname Kort - Meaning and Origin
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Kort: What does the surname Kort mean?
The last name Kort is of Dutch and German origin and is derived from the surname Korte, which means “short”. In Dutch, the word “Kort” typically referred to a person of lower social standing. In Germany, the name was originally associated with most likely a farm laborer.
It is also possible that the name could have derived from Korte, an occupational name for someone who was a messenger, or one who carried letters or documents. It could also have been derived from the Dutch word korps, which means “corps” or “company” and was used to indicate a military unit.
In the United States, the surname Kort has become a popularized form that is widely used in many areas of the country, likely because of its pronunciation and its spelling in many languages.
Kort is usually pronounced as "kor-t". It is an interesting last name as it was derived from a word meaning “short” which is a universally meaningful term. It is likely that the surname itself showed an individual’s humble beginnings and a lack of hereditary privilege.
Over time, this last name has become more and more popular, with individuals bearing the name found in many parts of the world. This could indicate that the surname Kort has come to mean “short stature” more generally, rather than just describing someone of very low social standing or humble origins.
Order DNA origin analysisKort: Where does the name Kort come from?
The last name Kort is most common in Europe and North America specifically in countries like Germany, Netherlands, England, Canada, and the United States.
In Germany, Kort is most prevalent in the Bavaria region where 8,642 people carry the name. It is also quite popular in the border state of Westphalia where another 5,436 live.
In the Netherlands, Kort is most prominently found in the provinces of Noord-Holland and Utrecht. It is known for being one of the oldest Dutch surnames to exist today, with records dating back to the 16th century.
In England, Kort is mostly concentrated in the county of Derbyshire where it is recorded as being the 43rd most common surname.
In Canada, Kort is mainly found within the provinces of Ontario and Alberta, although it has also been recorded in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and several others.
In the United States, the surname Kort is most popular in the state of Michigan, where it has been recorded as being the 642nd most common surname, followed by Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, New York, and Pennsylvania. It ranks in at 10,361st as the most popular American surname.
Overall, the surname Kort is a relatively frequent last name throughout Europe and North America, with many people tracing their lineage to ancient European origins.
Variations of the surname Kort
The surname Kort can have multiple variants, spellings and even different surnames from the same origin.
One variant spelling for Kort is Kurt. It's the German version of the surname, deriving from an Old High German word meaning "brave".
Kort and Kurt can also have different spellings in different countries. For example, the Dutch variant of Kort is De Korte and the Polish version of Kurt is Kurtyka.
The surname Kort is also the same origin as many different surnames, like Cort, Corbet, Corte, Courtois, Kortmann and Korte. All of these surnames derive from the same Old High German word, kurt, which means "brave".
In addition to variants and spellings, there are also other slight variations of the surname Kort. For example, Cortzen or Corsten are both related to Kort, as are Cortes, Kortan, Kortes and many more variations.
Overall, the surname Kort has many variants, spellings and related surnames from the same origin. It might have different versions in different countries, and there are also many other related surnames with similar spellings.
Famous people with the name Kort
- Freddy Kort: Dutch athlete and discus thrower.
- Jake Kortsen: American former professional baseball player.
- Joost Kort: Dutch rower.
- Willem van de Kort: Dutch former professional cyclist.
- Pieter Korteweg: Dutch actor, director and producer.
- Hennie Kort: Dutch photographer.
- Arnold Korte: Dutch professional football player.
- Thijs Kort: Dutch singer and songwriter.
- Mieke Kort-Nagel: Dutch politician.
- Govert Kort: Dutch sculptor.
- Shana Kort: American actress and writer.
- Craig Korte: American former professional tennis player.
- Gloria Kort-Rauch: Dutch film director, screenwriter and editor.
- Rutger Kort: Dutch actor, comedian and writer.
- Okke Kort: Dutch former professional football player and manager.
- Peter Kort: Dutch diplomat and international arbitrator.
- Pieter Kort: Dutch art historian.
- Barbara Kortleven: Dutch tennis player.
- Robert Kort: Dutch Paralympic athlete.
- Piet Kort: Dutch professor of Physiology.