Surname Kurze - Meaning and Origin
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Kurze: What does the surname Kurze mean?
The surname Kurze is derived from German and originates from Middle High German "krüze", meaning "curly". It is believed to have been bestowed as a nickname in the early Middle Ages, most likely in recognition of someone's physical features, a person's hair being especially distinctive.
The name Kurze is most commonly found in the northern regions of Germany, particularly on the outskirts of present-day Berlin and in what is now Saxony and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It can be seen throughout the Scandinavian countries, although with less frequency than in Germany.
In the United States, the name Kurze first appeared among German immigrants to the area which is now Pennsylvania and Virginia.
The Kurze family has a long history of military prowess, with at least two members having served in Napoloen's Prussian Army, and another as one of Denmark's most celebrated generals—Johann Wendel Kurze.
The surname has also been linked to a number of accomplished scientists such as professor Karl Kurze, who specialized in botanical genetics, and Arthur Kurze who was considered a prominent educator and linguist.
The Kurze family has certainly earned their place in history with an impressive amount of achievement, and their surname lives on to illustrate their legacy.
Order DNA origin analysisKurze: Where does the name Kurze come from?
The surname Kurze is most commonly found in Germany, with clusters particularly strong in the states of Saxony, Thuringia, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. A small number of people with variant spellings like Kurz and Kurzeme also exist in other parts of Europe and the United States.
Locally, Kurze is most common in towns and villages with names ending in "ingen", such as Ebsdorf, Demmingen, and Frohburg. The name spread to other parts of Germany during the 19th century, with numerous Kurze families establishing themselves in larger cities throughout the country.
Other parts of Germany also saw migration of Bavarian and Upper Austrian Kurze families during the wars of the 19th century, particularly the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–1871. Since then, the name has begun to spread to other parts of the world.
Today, Kurze families can be found in the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Denmark, and the United Kingdom, although the name is still overwhelmingly popular in Germany. This could be due to the fact that Kurze families often choose to stay close together even when it comes to international relocations, maintaining strong links with each other throughout the generations.
Variations of the surname Kurze
Kurze is a German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) surname that originates in Central Europe. There are various different variant spellings and related surnames of the same origin. These include Kurz, Kürz, Kurzem, Kurzman, Kurzmann, Kurchan, Kurchmann, Kortz, Kortzmann, Kortzman, Kortzem, Kirtz, Kirtzman, Kirtzem, Kerz, Kernz, Kernzmann, Kartz, and Kurc.
Kurz is the most common variant spelling of Kurze, and it is found mainly among German-speaking populations. It is derived from the Middle High German word "kurz" which means 'short'. It is believed to be an occupational surname for someone who was involved in the business of shorting cloth or who made garments or sewing.
Kürz is the other main spelling variant of Kurze. It is originates from the Middle High German word "kürz" which means 'short'. It is also believed to be an occupational surname for someone involved in the business of shorting cloth or one who made garments or sewed.
The surname Kurzem is a variant of Kurze, and it is primarily found in Jewish populations. It is derived from the Yiddish word "kurz" which means 'short', and it is believed to be an occupational name given to someone who shorted cloth or sewed.
Kurzman, Kurzmann, Kurchan, Kurchmann, Kortz, Kortzmann, Kortzman, Kortzem, Kirtz, Kirtzman, Kirtzem, Kerz, Kernz, Kernzmann, and Kartz are all variant spellings of Kurze that are found among German-speaking and Jewish populations. All of these surnames are derived from the Middle High German and Yiddish words for 'short', and it is believed to be an occupational name given to someone who shorted cloth or sewed.
Kurc is a spelling variant of Kurze that is found in both German-speaking and Jewish populations. It is derived from the Middle High German and Yiddish words for 'short', and it is believed to be an occupational name given to someone who shorted cloth or sewed.
Famous people with the name Kurze
- Christopher Kurze: professional golfer, winner of 2009 Sunnehanna Amateur
- Robert Kurze: former Austrian luger and Olympic medalist
- Kim Kurze: American politician and former member of the Wisconsin Assembly
- Andrew Kurze: professional soccer player
- Paul Kurze: American actor, producer, and stand-up comedian
- Jakob Kurze: German footballer
- Jürgen Kurze: German footballer
- Nils Kurze: German footballer
- Birgit Kurze: German actress
- Roman Kurze: German football manager