Surname Körtken - Meaning and Origin
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Körtken: What does the surname Körtken mean?
The last name Körtken originates from Germany and is of occupational origin. It is derived from the German word ‘Kurze’, meaning ‘tailor’. This translates to the English terms ‘seamstress’ and ‘tailor’.
The name could have originated from a family of tailors in a German-speaking region, or from a person who was renowned for his tailoring skills.
It is likely that the name was taken on after a family member started to specialize in tailoring clothes, rather than engaging in agriculture or craftsmanship, which were the most common practices at the time.
The name Körtken appears in several records from Germany, some of which date back to the 15th century. In particular, the name appears in records from Hanover, a former kingdom located in what is now northwest Germany.
The name Körtken is found worldwide today; it is most prevalent in Germany, but can be found in other countries as far away as the United States and Canada.
Even today, descendants of the Körtken family often pursue careers in the clothing industry, continuing to uphold the reputation for excellence that the tailors of old established.
Order DNA origin analysisKörtken: Where does the name Körtken come from?
The last name Körtken is most common in the northern parts of Germany, especially the states of Saxony-Anhalt, Lower Saxony, and Brandenburg, as well as Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. According to data from the database of the Institute of Posterity, Körtken is the 2715th most common last name in Germany, with roughly 1,000 citizens having the name.
In other parts of Europe, the name can also be found in the broader area of the German-speaking parts, such as Austria and Switzerland. There are also many people with the surname in the Netherlands, where it is especially common in the province of North Brabant. Furthermore, small numbers of Körtkens can be found in the Scandinavian countries, the United Kingdom, France, and other countries in Western Europe and beyond.
The origin of the last name Körtken is German and is mostly associated with agriculture. It means "little root", which suggests that the holders of the name most likely worked on a farm at some point in time.
Given the people with the last name Körtken can be found scattered across the globe, it is safe to say the name is not limited to any single country or region.
Variations of the surname Körtken
The surname Körtken is an ethnic German surname that was brought to German-speaking countries like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland from the Slavic countries of what is now the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland. In these countries, the surname is found spelled as Körtken, Kortken, and Kortechen. It is also sometimes spelled as Körtche, Körtke, or Körtte. In many countries, such as the USA, the spelling has been Anglicized, and it can be found as Kortken, Kortechen, and Curtken.
The surname Körtken is thought to derive from the Old German word "Krott", which means "Cutter" or a "person who cuts." This indicates that the surname was originally held by someone who was involved in cutting fabric, leather, or fur, or perhaps someone who worked as a butcher. It is also possible that the progenitor of the name was a swordsmith, as the German verb "kronen," which is related to the Old German root "Krot," meant "to forge swords."
Variants of the surname Körtken can also be found in other countries. In France, it can be spelled as Kortune, Koltune, Kordune, Kortoune, and Kortining. In Ukraine, the Ukrainian-Polish version of the surname is found as Kortylewski. In Lithuania, a variant of the surname is found as Kortkins. In Finland and Estonia, a variant of the name can be found as Kärtken. In Netherlands, it can be found spelled as Kortechen and Kortine.
In Australia, the spelling of Körtken has been anglicized to Cortkin, Kerkin, Conken, Kaertken, and Curtken. It is also variants of this spelling which can be found across the United Kingdom, An example would be Kaertkin in Scotland and Cartkin in England.
As with many surnames, there are also many ways to spell the same name, no matter what the language or culture. The name Körtken has existed for hundreds of years and has been borne by members of many different cultures, from German to Slavic and beyond.
Famous people with the name Körtken
- Juliane Körtken, German actress
- Jenny Körtken, German-Turkish television presenter
- Mathieu Körtken, French actor
- Michael Körtken, German football manager
- Hermine Körtken, German language and literature professor
- Tobias Körtken, German musician and composer
- Angus Körtken, American actor and comedian
- André Körtken, German rally driver
- Jonathan Körtken, German professional badminton player
- Reinhard Körtken, German neurology professor