Surname Kortebein - Meaning and Origin
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Kortebein: What does the surname Kortebein mean?
Kortebein is an old German surname derived from the words "Kurz" meaning short and "Bein" meaning leg. It is believed that this surname is derived from someone who was either physically short or had short legs. The name is also occasionally spelled as Körtebein, Curtbein, and Cortebein.
Kortebein is an uncommon surname, but can be found mostly in Germany, due to its German origin. Specifically, it is the second most common surname in the city of Meissen in North-East Saxony.
The name can be traced back to the 11th century when Walter Korte became court chaplain in Saxony. His taking of the name Kortebein Connects his family to the region of Saxony.
In modern times, Kortebein is used as an uncommon first name or a surname. Notable individuals with this last name include:
- German actor Thomas Kortebein
- Swiss entrepreneur and CEO Adolf Kortebein
- German writer and photographer Reinhard Kortebein
- German politician Manfred Kortebein
- German professor at the University of Hamburg Kirsten Kortebein
The name Kortebein can be translated to mean "short leg", and could suggest someone of smaller stature, although over the centuries the surname has been adopted by people of a range of physical statures. This rare surname is most commonly found in Germany, although in modern times it has also spread across the globe.
Order DNA origin analysisKortebein: Where does the name Kortebein come from?
The last name Kortebein is commonly found in parts of Germany and Southern Europe today. It is thought to have originated in Germany, where people with the last name settled mainly in the Hanover region.
The last name Kortebein is derived from the Middle High German word "kurtzbain," or "short-legged." This name was likely bestowed upon individuals with unusually short legs, and over time, the meaning of the name has become more metaphorical as people began to use it to describe individuals with short temperaments or those who were quick to quarrel.
Many people with the last name Kortebein migrated from Germany to other parts of Europe in the early 1800s. Today, the name is most commonly encountered in the southern European countries of Spain, Portugal, and Italy. Kortebein is still a relatively rare last name in these countries, however, and is also found in much smaller numbers in North America and other parts of the world.
Some sources suggest that several variations of the Kortebein name exist, such as Korbein, Kortebain, Kirtebin, Kortbien, and Kurtbin. While it is possible that these names are of the same origin, further research is necessary to verify any connection.
Variations of the surname Kortebein
Kortebein is a German surname of low frequency. Its variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin can be broadly divided into two groups: those derived from the German spelling and those derived from the Swedish spelling.
In German, a common variant of Kortebein is Kortebän. This spelling takes into account the umlaut present in the word kürtebän, which is the German variant of shrub. This variant of the name is believed to come from the Middle High German word kurtwilbe, which signifies a ‘swamp shrub’.
The variants of Kortebein in the Swedish spelling system include Korbein, Korteby and Kortebäen. This variation stems from the Swedish dialect which uses the letter y instead of the German letter ä.
Kortebein can also be spelled as Kortebohn or Kortebaun, which are both variations of Kortebein that retain the letter b as is often done in German variants of the name.
In addition, there are other surnames of the same origin as Kortebein, such as Kotzet, Cortebohm, and Kürteböhn. These surnames likely descend from the same base word of kurtwilbe, meaning ‘swamp shrub’, as the surname Kortebein.
In conclusion, the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin of Kortebein are numerous and can be found in both the German and Swedish languages. These variations range from those that incorporate letter variations or the German use of umlauts, to surnames that are derivatives of Kortebein, such as Kotzet, Cortebohm and Kürteböhn.
Famous people with the name Kortebein
- Kristina Kortebein: a YouTuber specializing in DIY, lifestyle, and crafting.
- Caitlin Kortebein: a popular bodybuilder and fitness model.
- William Kortebein: an actor best known for his performance in the 2012 dark comedy Seven Psychopaths.
- Steffen Kortebein: a French-German professional footballer.
- Valerie Kortebein: a top-rated figure skater, winning several competitions internationally.
- Ute Kortebein: a German actress and theatre director.
- Paul Kortebein: an award-winning Dutch-British painter and graphic artist.
- Sergej Kortebein: a popular German musician and composer.
- Tom Kortebein: an American professional footballer who currently plays for Colorado Rapids.
- Juliette Kortebein: an acclaimed French singer and songwriter.