Surname Kürten - Meaning and Origin
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Kürten: What does the surname Kürten mean?
The last name Kürten is of German origin. The name itself is believed to derive from the Middle High German word ‘kurt’, which means ‘short’ or ‘courageous’. In some cases, the name could even mean ‘fierce’ or ‘bold’.
Not surprisingly, the most common use of the name Kürten is as a surname. This widespread variation of the name likely first appeared in Germany sometime during the 12th century,, but their exact origin is still unknown. A few towns across Germany such as Mettmann, Frechen and Bünde, are said to have a large population of people with the last name Kürten.
Kürten can also be found in several other countries. As the German language and culture spread in the Middle Ages, the surname was carried along and began to take root in different places. Kürten is commonly found in the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and even parts of Scandinavia.
The Kürten surname also appears in the United States. It is believed that Kürten immigrated to the country primarily in the mid-1800s, with the majority settling in the Mid-Atlantic region. The name is still prevalent in the U.S. today, with its bearers found throughout the country.
The surname Kürten is widely recognized as a Germanic name. It is not known to have any direct ties to any particular occupation or geography; however, the meaning of the name is compelling and hints at the character of those it is attributed to.
Order DNA origin analysisKürten: Where does the name Kürten come from?
The last name Kürten is most commonly found in Germany, where it is still widespread today. It is also found in Switzerland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Austria, but to a lesser extent. In Germany it is especially common in the western part of the country, particularly around the cities of Cologne, Bonn and Bonn-Rhine-Sieg.
The name originated from the German word "Kürte" meaning "short", and was first established as a surname in the early 16th century. One of the earliest records of the name is from the baptism of Henricus Curti in 1531, in Kempen, Germany.
Over the centuries, the name has been slightly adapted in different regions, most notably in Switzerland where it is spelled Kürte, and in the Netherlands where it is Kirten.
Today, there are around 6000 individuals with the last name Kürten living in Germany, making it one of the most common surnames in the country. It also remains relatively prevalent among German immigrants now living in other countries, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. The name has also seen a recent trend of increase in Luxembourg and Austria.
Variations of the surname Kürten
The surname Kürten has several variants, spellings, and surnames which share the same origin. The most common variants and spellings are: Kurten, Kuring, Kurning, Kuerth, Kuehrt, and Kuerp.
Kürten is a German and Dutch surname which originated in the Rhineland, Oberberg, Mittel-Rhein, Westfoth, and Saarland regions in Germany. In the Netherlands, it originates from the Dutch province of North Brabant.
Other German variants include Koerden, Koerten, Körte, Koerth, Koerting, Körding, Koetten, Koeth, Korten, Kurting, Köhring, Körner, Köhrmann, Körber, Kühr, Kölbl, Görgens, Körner, Köhnen, Könsing, Köngen, Kögler, Köhlmann, Kölpler, Köhle, and Köhrle.
The Dutch variants include Koerden, Koerten, Koehlen, Köhlman, Köhlenboom, Köhlenkamp, Koehlenwolf, Köhlenhuis, Köhlenboek, and Koehlenberg.
In addition, some well-known derivatives of the surname Kürten include: Curtain, Curtin, Karton, Kertesz, Mortensen, Kartin, Kardon, and Gorton.
Finally, specific Dutch towns have adopted as their surnames the nicknames Kürten, Köhl, Köhlen, and Köhling.
Famous people with the name Kürten
- Eva Kürten: German singer/songwriter and music producer
- Berni Kürten: German actor, best known for his roles in the TV series 'Die Wache' and 'Schimanski'
- Ernst Kürten: German medical doctor and physicist best known for his research in the field of radiobiology
- Irmin Kürten: German weightlifting champion
- Claudia Kürten: German student of medicine, held a world record in her age group in Olympic weightlifting
- Klaus Kürten: former member of the board of directors of the German electronics company Siemens AG
- Manuela Kürten: German female equestrian Olympian
- Georg Kürten: German footballer who played in the Bundesliga
- Peter Kürten: Austrian painter, draughtsman and sculptor
- Heinz Kürten: German businessman and entrepreneur, founder of several companies and publisher of numerous books