Surname Kerstan - Meaning and Origin
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Kerstan: What does the surname Kerstan mean?
The last name Kerstan is German in origin and likely dates back to the medieval period. Its precise meaning is unknown, but the most likely explanation is that it is of toponymic origin, denoting someone from Kersten, a town in what is now North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The first recorded use of the name dates back to the 16th century, when several members of the Kerstan family were recorded in the Freigericht, Hesse, a district located near Frankfurt.
The name is likely derived from the German word 'Kersten,' which itself derives from the Old High German word 'kersto,' meaning 'woodland.' Thus, the name bears the likely meaning of 'one from Kersten (woods).' It is also possible that the name has been changed slightly over time, perhaps to insert a recognition of a patronymic system.
The name Kerstan is not particularly common, but may be found throughout Germany and surrounding countries. The largest concentrations of this name, which is still borne by relatively few people in Germany, are located in Hesse, Baden-Württemberg, and North Rhine-Westphalia. It is also possible to find this surname in Denmark, as it was present in this country during the 19th century.
The name Kerstan is likely to be most common amongst German-speaking countries, but it can also be found in other countries, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia, where families with German ancestry have migrated.
Order DNA origin analysisKerstan: Where does the name Kerstan come from?
The last name Kerstan is common today primarily in Germany and Scandinavia. It is also found sporadically in the United States, Canada, and other parts of Europe.
The name Kerstan is based on the Germanic root kerst, meaning “Christian” or “believer.” It originates from the Germanic given name Christian, and was common among Christians living in Central and Northern Europe during the Middle Ages.
The most likely origin of the Kerstan surname is from East Prussia, where families bearing the name are found as early as the 13th century. The Kerstans lived primarily in East Prussia and spread to parts of Germany, with some then migrating to other parts of the world, particularly to North America.
Today, the Kerstan surname is most common in Germany, particularly in Lower Saxony and Bavaria. It can also be found in Scandinavia, especially in Norway and Denmark, as well as in other parts of Europe, including the United Kingdom and Poland.
In North America, the Kerstan surname is found primarily in the United States, where families bearing the name have lived since the 19th century. The surname is most common in New York, followed by California, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. There are also smaller pockets of the Kerstan surname in Canada, primarily in Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec.
Variations of the surname Kerstan
Kerstan is a surname with several known variants, spellings, and other surnames of similar origins.
The most commonly seen variant of Kerstan is Kersten. It is likely that both Kerstan and Kersten emerged from a single ancestor, with spelling variations developing over time.
Other spellings of the surname include Kerstin, Kerston, Kerstyn, and Kirsten. In some cases, Kerstan has become changed to more Anglicized surnames such as Carstens and Carsten. There are also variants that involve a double consonant, such as Kerrstin and Kerrsten.
Kerstan is a German surname, with the popular origins being from locations in Europe such as Estonia, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Latvia, and Lithuania. However, the surname is associated with multiple countries and is found all around the globe.
In addition, there are several other surnames that may have developed from a similar origin as Kerstan, such as Kersting, Kerstmann, and Kerstein.
Overall, Kerstan is a surname with several known variants, spellings, and similar surnames of origin. Variations have developed over time, and there is a global presence of the surname.
Famous people with the name Kerstan
- Max Kerstan- a German writer widely known as a children's author.
- Brad Kerstan- an Australian professional baseball player playing in the Australian Baseball League.
- Nicole Kerstan- an award-winning Austrian actress and voice actress.
- Louisa Kerstan- a British sculptor and visual artist.
- Karsten Kerstan- a German chemist and professor at the University of Kiel.
- Theodor Kerstan- a German philologist and scholar of the English language.
- Helge Kerstan- a Norwegian classical violinist and composer.
- Paul Kerstan- an artist specializing in kinetic sculptures made out of everyday materials.
- Johannes Kerstan- a German mathematician andNotes who worked in algebraic geometry.
- Friedrich Kerstan- a German painter in the Realist style, known for his portraits of rural scenes.