Surname Korfesmeyer - Meaning and Origin
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Korfesmeyer: What does the surname Korfesmeyer mean?
Korfesmeyer is a German surname originating from the Middle Ages. It is most commonly found in the regions of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony in Germany. The surname is derived from a combination of two elements; the first being the name "Kort," which is an old German term meaning "short or small," and the second being "Fritz," which is an old German term meaning "peace and tranquility."
Historically, the name was often used in reference to a family of small stature, leading to the adoption of the surname. In recent decades, the Korfesmeyer surname has spread in popular usage throughout the world, stemming from the migrations of German people around the globe.
Today, the name has become quite diverse, as the descendants of those who adopted the name spread to different parts of the world, resulting in differing interpretations of the name’s meaning. For some, the name is still in reference to small stature, while for others, it has developed an entirely new meaning, such as “peace-loving ruler” or “leader of peace”.
Regardless of its current interpretation, the name of Korfesmeyer is deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of Germany, and continues to be held in high regard in the German culture.
Order DNA origin analysisKorfesmeyer: Where does the name Korfesmeyer come from?
The last name Korfesmeyer is commonly found in Germany today. The name is of German origin and its variants include Korfesmeijer, Korfmayer, Korfmeyer, and Corf. It is derived from the Middle High German word “korf” meaning basket or container.
The family is thought to have originated in the region of the Rhineland Palatinate, where many bearers of the last name are still found today. Other areas with high concentrations of people with this surname are lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Bavaria. It is also common in the United States, particularly in states such as Wisconsin, Missouri, and North Dakota.
The Korfesmeyer family has been historically connected to the weaving and merchant professions. The name was also carried by some families in the upper nobility. The first bearer of the name in the Upper and Lower Palatinate was Johann Korfesmeyer, who lived during the 13th century.
The name is not frequent but can still be found in modern Germany today. It often is found in areas with a high concentration of people with German roots. The variants may also appear in documents dating from earlier centuries including in Germany, the United States, and other countries.
Variations of the surname Korfesmeyer
Potential alternate spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin as Korfesmeyer would include Korfmeyer, Korfmayer, Koorfmeyer, Koorfmayer, Corfesmeyer, Corfmeyer, Corfmayer, Coorfmeyer, Coorfmayer, Körffmeyer, Körffmayer, Körfmayer, Körfmeyer, and Körfsmayer.
These surnames are rooted in the German language. Korfesmeyer combined the words "Korf" and "Meyer", which denote an individual in a managerial role within a Korf—a large administrative office in early Germanic cultures responsible for maintaining records. ‘Es’ translates to ‘formerly’ or ‘of’, illustrating that the surname likely belonged to someone who previously worked at or held a managerial position at a Korf, or the relative of someone who did.
The surname may also be a shortened version of other similarly spelled or sounding German surnames such as Korfhagen, Korfheinz, Korfmacher, Korfman, and Korfschmidt. These names all contain similar elements. "Korf" may come from the Middle High German term korfe and the Old High German term korff, which describe a large basket or container, perhaps related to the functions of the Korf. "Macher" comes from the Middle High German term macheren, which means to make or create and is often found as a suffix in occupational surnames. "Kommen" is derived from the High German term komen, which translates to come, and is often found in occupational surnames as a prefix.
The variations in spelling occur as a result of the interaction of languages, as each locality may have slightly different phonetic pronunciations of words due to variation in accents and local dialects. The rise of literacy, phonetics, and dictionaries has allowed for the simplification and standardization of spellings in more recent times.
Famous people with the name Korfesmeyer
- David Kordesmeyer: former American baseball player that played outfield and pitcher with the Chicago Cubs from 1912 to 1914.
- Elizabeth Kordesmeyer: German-American film actress who had a recurring role in the television series “The Guardian”.
- Curt Kordesmeyer: American Quarterback that was drafted by the New England Patriots in the 1993 NFL Draft.
- Erich Kordesmeyer: German-American sculptor and co-founder of the American Academy of Stuttgart in Germany.
- Leopold Kordesmeyer: German amateur astronomer who discovered several minor planets.
- Bill Kordesmeyer: American former basketball player popularly known as “Billy the Kid”, who played for the St. Louis University Billikens from 1946 to 1949.
- Bruce Kordesmeyer: American writer and director who wrote the script for the 1989 film “Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland”.
- Judy Kordesmeyer: American philanthropist and former U.S. diplomat who is the current U.S. ambassador in Egypt.
- Thomas Kordesmeyer: German WW2 pilot who flew for the Luftwaffe and scored several aerial victories.
- John Kordesmeyer: American politician from Missouri who served in the Missouri House of Representatives for five years.