Surname Kurt - Meaning and Origin
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Exploring Personal Identity & Heritage through iGENEA DNA Test: A Focus on the Surname Kurt
Acquiring my DNA test results has dawned a new understanding of my own identity and the importance of my heritage. My surname, Kurt, has become symbolic of this journey.
S. Kurt
read moreKurt: What does the surname Kurt mean?
The last name Kurt is a German name that has roots in Middle High German, Germanic, and Latin. It is believed to have originated from the given name Conrad, meaning “bold counsel”. This name was often given to children of noble families and elite courtiers of the Middle Ages and is still a popular name in Germany today.
The surname Kurt is also thought to be derived from the name Curtius, which is Latin for “short” or “curt”. It is a popularly used surname in Germany, and throughout the world, with bearers in countries such as Austria, Switzerland, the United States, Canada, and Australia.
The name Kurt is often seen as a symbol of strength or boldness, and those who carry the name are often thought to have a determined and powerful character. People with the surname are also thought to be optimistic with an eye for a bright future, as well as being ambitious and intelligent.
All in all, the name Kurt can be seen to be a strong name representing ambition, strength, and intelligence. Bearers of this surname can be proud of this symbol of strength and determination their name represents.
Order DNA origin analysisKurt: Where does the name Kurt come from?
Kurt is a German name, derived from the Old High German name "Kurtz" which translates to mean 'bold'. The name was notably popular in Germany during the 19th and early 20th centuries, and it remains quite common today in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In these countries, it is most often spelled "Kurtz" instead of "Kurt." The name is also encountered in other countries settled by Germanic-speaking people, such as the Netherlands, the United States, and Canada.
Kurt is among the top hundred baby names in Switzerland, standing at #89 in 2020. It was the 30th most popular baby name for boys in Germany in 2019, and ranked at #33 in 2020. In Austria, it moved up two spots to #52 that same year.
In the United States, Kurt first entered the Social Security Administration's top 1000 baby names list in 1924, when it claimed the #597 spot, and it steadily increased in popularity until 1942 when it peaked at #102. Since then, the name has declined in use and is currently ranked as #601 in 2020.
Kurt has also remained a popular name in several other countries, although it is typically spelled "Kurtz." It rose to #182 in the Netherlands in 2020, up from #233 in 2019. It also moved up 8 spots to #122 that same year in Sweden, and was #42 out of 64 in Norway in 2019.
Overall, the name Kurt is still widely used in Germanic-speaking countries, and although it has declined in popularity in the United States, it is still fairly common.
Variations of the surname Kurt
The surname Kurt is a common German family name that has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These variants are all variants of the name Curt or Konrad, which comes from an Old German word meaning “bold” or “brave.”
The most common variants of the name are Kurt, Curt, and Kort. Kurth and Korth are also very popular variants. The spelling Curt can also be spelled Kortz or Korte. Kurz and Koertz are also variants. Other variants include Kürtz, Kortner, Kurtmann, Kurtisch, Kurthauer, Kortner, Kürtner, and Kürten.
In addition to the core variants of the Kurt family name, there are other surnames which come from the same origin. The names Konrad, Conrad(t), Kühn, Christian, and Krüger are all German family names that are derived from the same root. Similarly, the Dutch Curtis and Cor(d)es families can be traced back to the same origin as the Kurt family name.
Through emigration, the Kurt family name has spread to many other countries, and the variants have grown in prevalence. In the United States, families are more likely to have spellings such as Curtiss, Curtice, Curtis, or the Americanized name Kurtz. Similarly, in France, those with the family name often spell it Courteau, Cordes, or, rarely, Kurtz.
Overall, the surname Kurt is a common German family name with a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Kurt can take many different forms, including Kurth, Korte, Konrad, Kühn, Christian, Curtis, and many more.
Famous people with the name Kurt
- Kurt Cobain: Kurt Cobain was the lead singer of famed rock band, Nirvana. He is widely regarded as one of the most iconic musicians of his generation and a major cultural icon.
- Kurt Vonnegut: Kurt Vonnegut was an acclaimed author his works are known for their satirical and darkly humorous tone. His most famous works include Slaughterhouse-Five, Cat's Cradle, and The Sirens of Titan.
- Kurt Angle: Kurt Angle is a retired professional wrestler who competed for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF/WWE), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He is widely recognized as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time.
- Kurt Russell: Kurt Russell is an American actor who has had a long and prominent career both in television and in film. He has starred in such films as Overboard, Escape from New York, The Thing, Tombstone, and The Hateful Eight.
- Kurt Busch: Kurt Busch is an American stock car racing driver who competes in the NASCAR Cup Series. He is a former Cup Series champion and won the 2004 Daytona 500.
- Kurt Gödel: Kurt Gödel was an Austrian-American logician, mathematician, and philosopher. His most famous work was his incompleteness theorem, which is widely regarded as the most important mathematical theorem of the 20th century.