Surname Kors - Meaning and Origin
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Kors: What does the surname Kors mean?
The last name Kors is of Scandinavian origin. The literal meaning behind the name is “son of a warrior,” derived from the Old Norse word Kjarr, which refers to a man in combat. As such, the name is traditionally associated with strength and bravery.
The name Kors was popular during the Viking age in Scandinavia and is still seen with some frequency in Scandinavia and other areas with a Viking history. Since the Middle Ages, the name Kors has been used as a surname across Europe and the Americas. It is most common in Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the United States, though it is seen in other parts of the world as well.
The name has distinct variants based on regional traditions and dialects. These include Kyros, Kyrou, Kirs, Curr, Kour, Koor, and Korsen. One of the most famous bearers of the name was the Danish author Karen Blixen, who wrote under the pseudonym of Isak Dinesen.
Though it is usually understood as a masculine name, more recently, the name has been used as a given name for girls or even as a middle name for both boys and girls. As a given name, it can be seen as a symbol of respect for traditional Scandinavian values such as strength, courage, and boldness.
Order DNA origin analysisKors: Where does the name Kors come from?
The surname Kors is actually a variation of an old Norse name Korsgaard, or courtyard. It is a fairly common surname in countries with Nordic or Germanic heritage, such as Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Netherlands. The name is also found among those of Danish and Dutch ancestry in the United States. Kors is also a more widespread Germanic-based name that is used in English-speaking countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
In the United States, the surname Kors is particularly common in states with large populations of Germanic ancestry, such as Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Ohio. According to the United States Census Bureau in 2019, there were a total of 6,453 people with the name Kors living in the United States. Out of all the states, Minnesota had the largest population of individuals with the last name Kors, with more than 1,500 individuals, followed by Iowa and Wisconsin.
The last name Kors has also seen some degree of success in other countries besides the United States. In Canada, particularly in the British Columbia region, the Kors surname is fairly common due to the large number of Scandinavian immigrants in the region. In Australia, the surname Kors is also quite common among those of German and Scandinavian descent, although the Australian population with the last name Kors is much smaller than in the United States.
Overall, the surname Kors is quite common in countries with Germanic or Scandinavian heritage, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. It is particularly common in the United States in states with large populations of Germanic ancestry, such as Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Ohio.
Variations of the surname Kors
The surname Kors is of Slavic and German origin, and is sometimes spelled Korss, Kores, Korse, Körs, Körsch, and Körschgen. Additionally, there are several variants that have become anglicized over time.
Kors is a patronymic surname, taking the first name of a father or ancestor and adding -s to it. One such origin of Kors is from the Slavic name of "Kor", which means "black". As such, this surname is derived from the occupation or physical trait of being a dark-haired or dark-skinned man. The spelling variant Körs is a German variation of this name.
Other anglicized versions, as Thomas Kors, Corrs, and Corse, are related to the surname Kors as they all derive from the same ancestry or as an alternate form of the delicate spelling of the original name. Similarly, the surnames Koster and Kosters are from the German name "Kosters" meaning parson or sexton.
Kors may also be derived from the personal name "Kort" or "Cort", cognate with Old Norse element "kortr" meaning short. This would have later been converted from "Kort" to "Kors".
Finally, a few more surname variants of Kors are Korsak, formed from the Russian honorific Korsakov, and Korshev, which originates from the Russian family name Korshev.
Famous people with the name Kors
- Michael Kors: American fashion designer, chairman, and chief creative officer of his brand Michael Kors
- Karl Anderson Jr. (better known as Anderson Paak): R&B singer, songwriter, and musician
- Christina Korsgård: Swedish fashion model
- Robert Kors: Austrian screenwriter and author
- Oleg Cassini: American fashion designer
- Tsilika Kors: Greek pianist and harpsichordist
- Morten Harket: Norwegian singer
- Simon Korsgaard Andersen: Danish blogger and travel writer
- Lionel Kors: Canadian actor
- Roy Kessel: American cinematographer
- Martina Marianni Kors: Danish contemporary artist
- Erik Kors: Dutch television presenter
- Lance Kors: British racecar driver
- Richard Korsmeyer: American chemist and National Medal of Science recipient
- Anna Kors:Belarusian model and fashion blogger