Surname Kerstemann - Meaning and Origin
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Kerstemann: What does the surname Kerstemann mean?
The last name Kerstemann is derived from German and means "[coming from] a mountain of kerst trees". The name likely derived from an ancestor who lived in a mountainous area with many kinds of pine trees, such as the kerst pine. This is why the name has come to mean someone who "comes from a mountain of kerst trees." The kerst tree itself is a pine tree, which is common in northern Europe and has been used as a symbol of everlasting life and everlasting love since the Middle Ages.
In modern Germany, the surname Kerstemann is still widely used, a testament to the long-standing significance of the name in the German culture over the centuries. It is also common throughout other parts of Europe, especially in countries where German influence was strong historically, such as the Netherlands and Poland.
The last name Kerstemann is associated with German heritage, but is also found among other European countries, where the kerst tree is a symbol of resilience and strength and is a symbol of good luck and prosperity in many places around the world. It is also embraced as a representation of a deep connection to nature, as the kerst tree is a symbol of a timeless, everlasting love and devotion.
Order DNA origin analysisKerstemann: Where does the name Kerstemann come from?
The last name Kerstemann originates from Germanic countries, with a the highest concentrations of people with this name living in Germany. According to the German surname database Genealogienetz, it is the 4,603rd most common name in Germany, with approximately 2,204 people bearing the name.
The surname is less commonly found in other parts of the world. In the United States, the Bureau of the Census listed it as the 11,265th most common last name in 2000, with 322 people reported to have the name. Australia has fewer Kerstemanns, with only 44 reported living there as per the Australian Electoral Commission listing in 2016.
The surname has also been recorded in Canada, Argentina, France, The Netherlands, Sweden, Latvia and Switzerland. Despite its sparse population across the globe, the last name Kerstemann continues to live on, passed down from generation to generation.
Variations of the surname Kerstemann
Kerstemann is a German and Dutch-language surname originating from the Dutch words “kerst” and “mann,” meaning Christmas man, which generally refers to a person related to or visiting from the holiday. The surname is often spelled as Kerstman or Kerstmann, and other regional variants may exist.
Variations on the surname may include Kerstein, Kistman, Krestein, Kestmann, Kestman, Kestemann, Kesterman, Kestermann, Carstemann, Carstmann, Kirsmann, Carstemann, Kerstien, and Kersteiner.
Surnames of similar origin may include Christman, Christmas, Christensen, Chrisman, and Christoffel. Those surnames are anglicized variants of the same Dutch and German word pair, sometimes skewed to fit English pronunciation and spelling conventions. All of these surnames signify a relation to the Christmas holiday.
Another related surname of Dutch origin is the modern Dutch-language surname Kersten. This surname is spelled identically in Dutch, and its origin is thought to have evolved from the older Dutch root words kerst and man.
Kerscht (which is also sometimes seen spelled Kerschtman) is another variation. This specific spelling comes from the Swiss-German dialect, and it is sometimes found in the United States. The German spelling is Kerst.
Variations on this surname indicate close connections to the holiday, and can provide genealogy leads and insight into the families’ history. Many other surnames have their origin in events, seasons, or holidays, and these can provide valuable clues to the family’s homeland and origins.
Famous people with the name Kerstemann
- Arnold Kerstemann: German film and television composer, conductor, and arranger
- Oskar Kerstemann: German film actor
- Frank Kerstemann: German politician and sports official
- Hermann P. Kerstemann: German professor of business administration and economics
- Bernhard Kerstemann: German professor of sociology and entrepreneur
- Henrich H. Kerstemann: German educator and politician
- Kerstin Kerstemann-Moritz: German female rower and bronze medalist in the 2000 Summer Olympics
- Tobias Kerstemann:German professional football player
- Wanda Kerstemann: German beauty queen, Miss Germany in 1965
- Ludwig Kerstemann: German sculptor and graphic artist best known for his bronze works