Surname Kerk - Meaning and Origin

Kerk: What does the surname Kerk mean?

The last name Kerk is of Dutch origin and is derived from the German word “Kirche”, meaning church, and is primarily found in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and the Scandinavian countries. This surname is a toponymic one or an identifier of a person that lived near or in a church, usually of the Protestant variety. It was originally a reference to lineage, since clan names were often based on churches that the family had a historical connection to or lived near.

Today, many people with the surname Kerk are still part of the Dutch Reformed Church and claim a connection to the same. Since places of worship were often the center of the local communities in those days, many places took up the name, e.g. "Kerk van 't dorp" (church of the village). Other sources of the surname could be referring to the members of an ancient guild of the same name whose profession was associated with the church.

The surname Kerk is pronounced either “KERK” (Dutch) or "KERKH" (German). Sub-varinats exist such as Kerckhoff, Kerkhoven, Kerkhof, Kerkhove, and Kerkhoff. Today, many people with the surname Kerk have successful professional careers in many different fields. It is a name with a long history of successful achievement and dedication to the Protestant Church.

Kerk: Where does the name Kerk come from?

The last name Kerk is commonly found throughout Europe, with higher concentrations in certain countries. In the Netherlands, the name is quite common as it is derived from the Dutch word for church. In Germany and Switzerland, the name is found in varying frequency, but it is especially prominent in the Rhineland and Eastern-Prussian regions. A more recent concentration of those with the surname Kerk is found in South Africa, where many Dutch emigrants settled after the Second World War. In the United States, the surname is found in much lower frequencies, especially in the states that have historically had large Dutch-American populations, such as New Jersey and New York. The earliest Kerk immigrants to the United States can be traced back to the mid-1800s, though due to the relative scarcity of the surname they are not as easy to trace as other names of similar origin.

Variations of the surname Kerk

The surname Kerk is derived from the Dutch word "kerk" which means "church".

Variants and spellings of the Kerk surname include:

- Kerc

- Kerkh

- Kerkhij

- Kerck

- Kerckh

- Kjerke

- Kjerki

- Kyerke

- Kyerki

- Kğrke

Surnames of the same origin include:

- Klark

- Klerk

- Kirk

- Kyrk

- Kirke

- Ker

- Kerke

- Kerkman

- Kerkhoff

- Kerkstra

- Kerkmeijer

- Kerkhof

- Kerkhofs

- Kerkslager

- Kerkhove

- Kerkvliet

- Kerkdijk

- Kerkenaar

- Kerkers

- Kersk

- Kerkersje

- Kerkbrink

Famous people with the name Kerk

• Stephan Kerk: Dutch football player who plays for Helmond Sport
• Erik Kerk: Dutch visual artist who works with abstractionism
• Mathilde Kerk: Dutch opera singer
• Daniël Kerk: Dutch composer and producer
• Maarten Kerk: Dutch artistic and graphic designer
• Wilma Kerk: Dutch singer, actress and cabaret artist
• Tig Kerk: Belgian painter, interior architect and art collector
• Tommy Kerk: Dutch drummer, producer and remixer
• Loekie Kerk: Dutch fashion designer
• Monique Kerk: Dutch film producer.

Other surnames

KerKeragallKerangallKeransKerbachKerbaughKerberKerbieKerblerKerboKerboughKerbowKerbyKerchKercherKerchnerKerckKerckelKerckhoffKerckhoffsKerckhofsKerdiffKerevanKergallKergelKergerKerglKerimKerimogluKerin