Surname Kurten - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Kurten: What does the surname Kurten mean?
Kurten is a German surname derived from the word "kurt" meaning "short" or "small thing." The surname was likely given to a family of short stature or to someone who was small in comparison to others. It is also possible for the name to refer to someone who lived in or near a small settlement, such as an village or hamlet.
The surname dates back to at least the sixteenth century, when the area now known as Germany was part of the Holy Roman Empire. Areas of Lower Saxony and Bavaria claim the majority of the earliest known Kurten families. Over time, the name spread throughout Germany as families relocated and settled in new areas.
Though the name is most commonly found in Germany, it is also to be found in other countries, such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Costa Rica, likely because of emigration from Germany.
The meaning of the surname has also been associated with strength and endurance, though this is a more modern interpretation. While the original meaning of the name refers to size, many people who bear the surname have used it as a symbol of resiliency and perseverance.
Overall, the surname Kurten is a German name derived from the words "short" or "small thing." The surname dates back to at least the sixteenth century and is most commonly found in areas of Germany. Though many consider the meaning of the last name to be associated with strength and endurance, the original meaning has to do more with size, probably relating to the size of the family's members or the size of the settlement the family lived in.
Order DNA origin analysisKurten: Where does the name Kurten come from?
The last name Kurten is predominantly an Austrian last name, particularly in the city of Vienna. Based on recent records from Austria, Kurten is the 574th most popular last name. It is also common in Germany, especially in Bavaria, and can be found in various areas throughout the United States as well.
Kurten appears to be most popular in Austria, where records show it is recorded in no less than 8 towns throughout the country. The name can also be found in several other countries in Europe, including North Macedonia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania. In North America, the largest population of people bearing the name Kurten lives in the United States.
The origin of the Kurten surname is derived from people with place names. Looking at the history of the people in these areas, related to this family name, indicates that various branches of the family likely lived and worked in different locations throughout Europe over the centuries.
The name Kurten is more often seen in Austria today, but this name can also be found in various smaller populations in North America and Europe as well. With its European roots, Kurten may have once been much more common, but over time the name has become less distinct in many countries.
Variations of the surname Kurten
The surname Kurten has many variants, spellings and surnames that are believed to be of the same origin. Some popular variations and spellings of the surname Kurten include Kürten, Kaerte, Kaerten, Kaerte, Koert, Koerten, Kohrten, Korten, Kurtton, and Korden.
Variations of the surname Kurten include Curtin, Kurtin, Kurton, Korten, Courtin, Courtemanche, Courtois, Courtright, Crutin, and Curtin. The Jewish spelling of the surname Kurten is Koerte.
In Germany and the Netherlands, the surname Kurten is spelled with a umlaut as Kürten. Other spelling variations of the surname Kürten include Koerten, Koertel, Koertener, Koerteldan, Koerteldin, Koertelden, Koerteldem, Koerteldes, Kortedan, and Kortedan.
The French variation of the surname Kurten is Courton. In Poland, the surname Kurten is believed to be derived from the Polish words for “Cross”, Kort or Korten, leading to the surname Korten and Kurten. In France, the surname Kurten is derived from the word Courtemanche, meaning “man of the court”.
In Scotland, the surname Kurten is believed to be derived from the Gaelic personal name "Cùirt" or "Cort". The Gaelic patronymic forms of this surname include Cùirt-Eoin and Cùirt-Mhairi.
Variations of the Dutch surname Kurten include Koordt, Koortman, Kortman, and Koorte. Other Scandinavian variations of the surname Kurten include Kortet and Koortin.
The Catalan surname Kurten is spelled Corten. The Irish form of the name Kurten is O'Kurteen or Kortin.
Famous people with the name Kurten
- Dave Kurten: a British Conservative Party politician and former Member of the London Assembly
- Jussi Kurten: a Finnish sprinter who won an Olympic bronze medal in the 200m event at the 2000 Summer Olympics
- Hans Kurten: a German operatic bass who appeared at the Vienna State Opera, Bavarian State Opera and Hamburg State Opera
- Norbert Kurten: a German footballer who played as a defender with Eintracht Frankfurt, Hamburger SV and the German national team
- Brock Kurten: an Australian-American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer
- Elsie Kurten: an American artist best known for her decorative paintings on historic buildings throughout the American Southwest
- Bill Kurten: a former photographer and film maker who documented the rise and fall of the Black Panther Party
- Teddy Kurten: a German television actor and director
- Henry Kurten: a former mayor of the city of Los Angeles
- Paul Kurten: a German physics professor and Nobel laureate