Surname Korthals - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Korthals: What does the surname Korthals mean?
The last name Korthals originates from Germany and is derived from a place name. It is a topographical surname, which refers to someone who lived near a kör (a type of water enclosure) found on level terrain. It is unclear when the name first appeared or if it has anything to do with the Dutch word kor.
Korthals is a common German surname, especially in the region of Westphalia, from which immigrants to the United States are likely to have originated. It can also be found among people of Dutch ancestry in parts of North America and of course among those living in Germany.
The occupational interpretation for the Korthals surname is that it signifies someone who was a maker of apparatus related to irrigation, such as someone who constructed the kör.
The name is also common among those descended from Dutch immigrants, such as those living in the former Dutch colonies of New Netherlands (New York) and New Netherland (New Jersey). This variant of the name may also be derived from the Dutch word kor, which has the same meaning as kör.
Korthals is a unique name that denotes someone with a specific origin and, in some cases, occupation. It is a part of family history and something to be cherished.
Order DNA origin analysisKorthals: Where does the name Korthals come from?
The last name Korthals is a Germanic surname which is commonly found today in Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Austria. It is believed that the name was derived from the Dutch word 'Koorthalen' which means “where the sound of crows is heard”.
The name is most predominant in Germany where it is taken by an estimated 12,500 people in the country. It is one of the more common surnames in the country, ranking at number 541 according to the German national census. In The Netherlands, the surname is taken by 1,200 people, making it a fairly common name in the country. It is believed that the name originated in the Dutch regions of Limburg and Overijssel, before eventually spreading to the surrounding areas.
In Belgium, the name is also relatively popular with 1,600 people taking it according to the last national census. It is especially popular in the Belgian province of Flanders, where 1,000 people have the name. In Austria, the name is taken by an estimated 1,100 people and is thought to have originated in the province of Lower Austria.
Ultimately, the name is a fairly common name across the Germanic speaking regions of Europe. It has an estimated population of around 17,000 people and tends to be concentrated within the countries of Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Austria.
Variations of the surname Korthals
The Korthals surname is of Dutch origin derived from the personal name Kort or Korte, meaning “short.” Variants on the surname include Korthals, Kortals, Korten, Kortenaer, Kortenhoven, Kortevelt, Corten, Kortenhoff, Corteza, and Cortez.
Some anglicized versions of the surname have evolved over time due to the process of immigration to other nations and the prevalence of English-speaking populaces. Those anglicized versions include Cort, Court, Coutts, Cutts, and Curt.
The Korthals surname has multiple origins depending on which country or region it is present. In the Netherlands, the Korthals surname is most prevalent in Dutch-speaking provinces such as Friesland, Guelders, and Utrecht. It is causually found in the Belgian provinces of Zeeland and Flemish Brabant as well.
In the United States, the majority of the individualswith the surname Korthals are found in New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin, although some of the anglicized spellings may be found across the nation. In parts of Germany, the Korte and Korthals spellings are found in and around places with Germanic names. The Korte spelling can be found in Denmark and Norway as well.
No matter the spelling, it is likely that all of these variants of the Korthals surname have the same origin and are related.
Famous people with the name Korthals
- Alan Korthals, American judge currently serving on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
- Arnold Korthals Altes, Dutch politician with the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy
- Berthold Korthals, early German photographer
- Coen Korthals Altes, Dutch legal scholar and politician
- Fritz Korthals, German Nazi military leader and recipient of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross
- Jess Korthals, American marine biologist
- Karin Korthals, Dutch politician
- Ruth Korthals, Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal
- Sandra Korthals-De Lon, international public health lawyer
- Ties Korthals Altes, Dutch politician with the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy