Surname Kurtenbach - Meaning and Origin
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Kurtenbach: What does the surname Kurtenbach mean?
The surname Kurtenbach is derived from the German words ‘Kurte’ or ‘Kurtz’ and ‘bach’ which together translate to ‘short stream’. It is an occupational surname, referring to one who lived near a shallow body of water.
Kurtenbach is commonly found throughout Germany, and also pops up in places such as France, the Netherlands, and the United States. In Germany its distribution is most concentrated in the western half of the country, with records indicating a presence in North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Baden-Württemberg, and Bavaria.
The name is likely to be most commonly associated with the Kurtenbach family, which was the principal German family holding power in the duchy of Berg between the 12th and 14th centuries. The family held the title of Graf of the city of Elberfeld, and it was the senior line of this family that was referred to as “Kurtenbach”. The name was borne by their successors, and eventually spread through German society.
Kurtenbachs are believed to have emigrated to the United States in the 17th and 18th centuries, being present in both Ohio and Pennsylvania. Today, the name is found in cities all across the country, with Flint in Michigan being home to the greatest concentration of Kurtenbachs.
Order DNA origin analysisKurtenbach: Where does the name Kurtenbach come from?
The last name Kurtenbach is most commonly found in Germany today. It is a historically German name and a variant of other similar names, such as Kiertenbach and Kyrtenbach. It is most numerous in Central and Southern Germany, with scattering of the surname found in the United States, Canada, and elsewhere.
Amongst German immigrants in the 1600s, records show the spelling of Kurtenbach appearing in many ships’ passenger lists. These first arrivals were likely from areas including The Lower Rhine, Hanover, Hesse, and Sauerland. As many of these immigrants settled in Pennsylvania, the surname also spread east and south throughout the colonies.
Today, the last name Kurtenbach can be found in many parts of Germany but is most commonly found in the region of Rheinland-Pfalz, an area with many Kurtenbach families who moved from the Low Countries in the late 1800s. In addition, the greatest concentrations of the name in the US are in the Mississippi Valley states of Ohio, Indiana, Missouri and Illinois.
The name Kurtenbach is also known for producing a notable family in the United States. Musician Alex Kurtenbach, for example, has been making music and performing since the 1980s, while Kimberly Kurtenbach has earned recognition for her work in public health and social justice.
Variations of the surname Kurtenbach
The surname Kurtenbach originates from German, and can be written in a variety of ways depending on the linguistic context. Common German variants include Kurtenbacher, Kurtenbacher, Kurzennbacher, Kurtenbauer, Kurziebauer, and Kurzbacher. Variations found in other German-speaking regions are Kurtebacher, Kortebacher, Kürteenbacher, Kurteinbacher, Kürteenbecher, Körtenbacher and Koertenbacher.
In the anglicised form, the most common spelling of the surname is Curtenbach. Variations of the name in English include Courtinbach, Courtinbaugh, Courtinbough, Cortenbach, Cortinbach, Cortinbaugh and Curtinbach. Other Americanised spellings include Kehrtenbach, Kiehrtenbach, Keortenbach, Keortenbacher and Kertenbach.
When traveling abroad, the surname is sometimes recorded in different languages. French or Catholic French variants are Corbenbach and Corbenbacher. Austrian spelling variations include Körtnerbach and Körtenberg. Resident in the Netherlands? You may find your name recorded as Kurtebach or Koertenbacher.
No matter which spelling or variation of the name the individual chooses, all of these surnames are ultimately derived from the Germanic root ‘Kurte/Kurz’, which in this context translates to ‘curtain’.
Famous people with the name Kurtenbach
- Karl Kurtenbach: modern dancer, choreographer, and professor of dance
- Eric Kurtenbach: German ice hockey winger
- Harald Kurtenbach: German racing driver
- Evan Kurtenbach: Canadian professional baseball player
- Chris Kurtenbach: American professional mixed martial artist
- Kristen Kurtenbach: American author of children’s novels
- Grete Kurtenbach: Norwegian textile artist and professor
- Kevin Kurtenbach: American bass player, singer-songwriter, and collaborator in the band The Swon Brothers
- Uwe Kurtenbach: German football coach
- Carl Kurtenbach: German violinist and professor