Surname Kalkert - Meaning and Origin
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Kalkert: What does the surname Kalkert mean?
The last name Kalkert is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German ‘kalk’, which means ‘lime’. The name could have various meanings, such as ‘worker with lime’ or ‘person who lived near lime’. In some cases, the surname might also have derived from the Middle High German ‘kalk’, meaning ‘block’; this could indicate that the original bearer of the name worked with limestone blocks or boulders. It is also possible that the surname has a more occupational origin; for example, the German word ‘Kalklieferant’, meaning ‘lime supplier’ or ‘calciner’, could be the root of the name.
The name has various spellings, including Kalkert, Kalkere, Kalkar and Kalkarz, all of which can trace their heritage back to the Middle High German root. The Kalkert name is common across Germany and Austria, and can also be found across much of Europe, including in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries where German citizens have emigrated to.
Historically, the Kalkert name can be traced to the early Middle Ages. The original bearer of the name may have been an individual involved in the delivery, manufacture, or sale of lime, but other specialties related to liquid lime, such as plastering and grinding of kilned materials, may have been their occupations. Overall, the last name Kalkert is rooted in a Germanic history of lime production and its various uses, suggesting a strong connection for many people whose last name bears this heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisKalkert: Where does the name Kalkert come from?
The last name Kalkert is most commonly found in Germany today. Kalkert is a surname of German origin which itself is derived from the German language word "Kalk," which means "lime." The origin of the surname likely lies in a geographic feature, such as a road or area, that had the word “Kalk” associated with it. It is also possible the family that originally held the surname Kalkert lived near a body of water with an abundance of limestone, as Kalk is often used in reference to both the rocks and the crushed powder form of calcium carbonate.
The most prominent place that the Kalkert family name is found today is in the state of North Rhine Westphalia. This is likely because the area has a strong German heritage and a number of German immigrants to the area. Other areas in Germany where the Kalkert name can be found include Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Bavaria.
The Kalkert surname can also be found outside of Germany, in states or countries that have a large German immigrant population. For example, the United States is home to several families with the Kalkert name, many of which likely originated in Germany and then migrated to the US during the mid to late 19th century. Australia also has a number of families with the surname Kalkert, as do some countries in South America, such as Argentina. The surname may have spread to some of these countries through German settlers, immigration, or other means.
Variations of the surname Kalkert
Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Kalkert include Kalkert, Kalckert, Kalckhardt, Kalkhardt, Kalkhard, Callkhard, Kalkard, Calckard, Kalkar, Chalckard, Kalkar, Kekkert, Kellkert, Kalckard, Kalckart, Kalkart, Calckert, Kalckerdt, Kalkerd, Kalkerdt, Keckert, Keckard, Kaackard, and Kaackert.
The Kalkert surname originally derived from the Germanic personal name Kalckhard, which is constructed from two elements: the word kalc, or “hard”, and the word “hard”. In the Middle Ages, the surname was used by German emigrants to refer to a person of strength or as a nickname for someone with a strong or forceful personality.
The Kalkert surname also has Dutch roots, as Kalckhard was a popular name in the Netherlands as well. However, the spelling may have been changed slightly during the development of the Low German dialect. Despite the changes in spelling, the name is still derived from the same Germanic personal name.
In areas where German and Dutch are spoken, the surname is still relatively common, though it has changed considerably in spelling over the centuries. As a result, the surname may be found in many variants across Europe, likely as a result of name changes or emigration. In the United States, the surname has been Americanized and is spelled Callkert or Kalkert.
Famous people with the name Kalkert
- Eric Kalkert: An American basketball player who played center for the University of Hawaii from 1995-1999.
- Adam Kalkert: An American lawyer and the current managing partner at the Kalkert Law Firm in Honolulu, Hawaii.
- Stephen Kalkert: American football player and head coach who coach college football at the University of Southern California from 1961-1974.
- Burkhard Kalkert: German composer, musicologist and songwriter. He was born in Germany and moved to the United States in 1974.
- Wolfgang Kalkert: Law professor and popular author of the book “How To Study Law”
- Henry Kalkert: American lawyer, politician, businessman and philanthropist. He served as the Mayor of Ralston, Nebraska from 1917-1919.
- Theresa Kalkert: American businesswoman and philanthropist. She was appointed by President Obama to the Board of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in 2014.
- Jan Kalkert: German-born artist and sculptor residing in California. He is best known for his sculpture titled “The Agony and the Ecstasy.”
- Rikard Kalkert: Swedish former professional ice hockey goaltender who played professionally from 1989-2001.
- Ryan Kalkert: American actor and stand-up comedian best known for his portrayal of Dr. Stephen Kreitzer in TV show “The Masters of Horror.”