Surname Kurländer - Meaning and Origin
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Kurländer: What does the surname Kurländer mean?
The last name Kurländer is an occupational surname of German origin. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "kurland," meaning "provisioner." The surname was originally used to denote an individual who was responsible for providing provisions, such as food or clothing, to a village or community. Over time, the surname gained additional regional significance, particularly in the German region of Thueringen. In this region, the last name is most commonly associated with the city of Jena.
It is possible that the use of the name Kurländer was also influenced by the German word "Kur" which translates to "court." This suggests that the surname may have originated with individuals who worked in or around the courts of the era.
The earliest record of the name Kurländer is from the 15th century. The earliest such occurrence is a record of a man named Berlin Kurländer, who lived in Jena in 1427.
Today, the surname Kurländer is still predominantly found in the region of Thueringen, especially in the city of Jena. There are other records of the name in other parts of Germany as well as in other nearby countries, including Poland and Lithuania.
Overall, the last name Kurländer is of occupational origin and carries a great deal of regional significance. Those who bear this surname can trace their ancestral ties back to this particular region of Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisKurländer: Where does the name Kurländer come from?
The last name Kurländer is most common today in South Africa, where 29 people with the surname currently reside. The name is thought to have originated in Germany, where it continues to be quite popular. Almost 200 people with the name currently live in Germany, primarily in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria.
Kurländer is also popular in the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio. West Virginia and California also have a significant number of people with the surname. In all, a total of 476 people with the name Kurländer currently live in the United States.
The surname is also quite popular in other countries, including Australia, where 159 people have it; Canada, which has a total of 154; and the United Kingdom, with 149. The surname has even spread to places like Iceland (13) and Ireland (12), although the numbers are relatively small.
Overall, the last name Kurländer is relatively widespread and quite common in many countries around the world. The majority of people with the name continue to live in Germany, but it is quite popular in a variety of other countries, such as the United States and Canada.
Variations of the surname Kurländer
The surname Kurländer is of German origin, most likely derived from the root words ‘kur’, meaning ‘short’, and ‘lander’, meaning ‘country’ or ‘region’. It is an occupational surname, likely referring to a locality or a job involving land or travel, such as a surveyor or traveler. The variants of Kurländer are Kurlander, kurland, Curlander, and Kurlaender. Other similar surnames may include Kurland, Kurlander, Kurzelander, Kurzlander, Kurländt, Curtlender, Curlet, Kurlet, and Kurlen.
The spelling of the surname has been changed over the years, and many different spellings and variations have been seen. This is likely due to the difficulty of formally transcribing a ‘b’ sound in German into an English alphabet. The original spelling of Kurländer was likely spelled as Kürländer. Additionally, the easiest way to find variants is to search for terms related to the meaning of the name. For example, searching for ‘short land’ or ‘country surveyor’ may reveal more variants.
Kurländer is also seen in Jewish families from Russia and Lithuania, however, the origins and spread of this surname are difficult to trace. People with this surname likely immigrated to the United States and other countries throughout the early twentieth century. It is still seen in the United States and among Jewish and German immigrant families.
Famous people with the name Kurländer
- Helmut Kurländer, German film editor
- Tim Kurländer, Canadian film editor
- Paul Kurländer, German alpine skier
- Britta Kurländer, German ice hockey player
- Kurt Kurländer, German former football player
- Cylor Kurländer, Swiss professional football player
- Alfred Kurländer, former Swiss bobsledder and Olympic medalist
- Ottmar Kurländer, German former ski jumper
- Manfred Kurländer, German former footballer
- Fritz Kurländer, former German American professional soccer player
- Frank Kurländer, former German professional football player and coach
- Enno Kurländer, former East German professional footballer
- Hendrik Kurländer, German sport shooter
- Uli Kurländer, German former rugby union player
- Ansgar Kurländer, former German rower