Surname Kortzhals - Meaning and Origin
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Kortzhals: What does the surname Kortzhals mean?
The last name Kortzhals is of German or Dutch origin, derived from the Middle Low German word 'Korteschale', meaning 'Basket Maker'. The original family name was likely Korteschale, which is a descriptive name indicating a person who made basketry and was most likely a profession passed down throughout the family lineage.
The surname was likely first found in the area of Lower Saxony, Germany where some of the earliest records of the name date back to the 13th century. It is possible that the original family bore the title of "Korbrauer" meaning basket maker, which could have been then later adapted into the surname Kortzhals.
During the Great Migration (17th and 18th century) many German families, including the Kortzhals, emigrated to the United States in search of a better life. This name is now widely spread throughout much of the North American continent, with the larger concentrations being primarily in the Midwest, particularly Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The presence of the Kortzhals name is also found in your home countries of Canada, and Australia.
Despite the usage of the surname being so widespread, the Kortzhals family still remains quite close. The family is held together through an online family tree where various branches of the family can keep in touch with one another and remain updated on the latest events of the family. The Kortzhals are a family with a proud and historic heritage and value greatly keeping the name alive for generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisKortzhals: Where does the name Kortzhals come from?
The last name Kortzhals is primarily found in the Netherlands, Germany, and the Scandanavian countries of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. It is a relatively uncommon name today in all of these countries.
In the Netherlands, the last name Kortzhals comes from the Dutch word 'korte', meaning 'short', often referring to a short stature. The 'hals' part of the name literally means 'neck', likely referring to a person who is neck-high or shorter than the average height. The surname is thought to date back hundreds of years in the Netherlands, as evidenced by the numerous churches named after this name in the provinces of Friesland, Drenthe, Groningen, and Utrecht.
In Germany, the name Kortzhals appears to have originated in the southern region of Bavaria. It is primarily seen in the region between the Rhine and Danube rivers, and is commonly associated with the Bavarian town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
In Denmark, the name is commonly seen in the southern part of Jutland, and the islands of Læsø, Fyn, and Sjælland. Most likely, the name Kortzhals appeared during the 19th century as a result of Danish immigration into Germany as part of the mass migration of the time.
The last name Kortzhals is similarly found in Norway and Sweden, in the regions of Oslo, Østlandet, and Sørlandet in Norway, along with the provinces of Skåne, Gotland, and Blekinge in Sweden. It is thought to have spread through immigration from Germany in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Today, the last name Kortzhals is relatively uncommon in all countries, although more widespread in the Netherlands and Germany. However, with a bit of research, it is possible to find small populations of the name throughout the Scandanavian countries and the Netherlands.
Variations of the surname Kortzhals
Kortzhals is a surname of Dutch, German or Baltic origin. The variants, spellings and surnames of similar origin for Kortzhals include Kortzhal, Kortzhall, Kortzhaler, Kortzhaler, Kortzhalser, Kortzgaler, Kortzgales, Kortzhalk, Kortzhaal, Kortzhaler, Kortjals, Kortjalcke, Kortcal, Kortzhols, Kortgalz, Kortgals and Kortzhels.
Kortzhals is a toponymic surname, derived from a location's name. It is derived from the Dutch words ‘kort’ or 'corke' and 'hals' meaning ‘narrow neck' or 'threshold’ and refers to someone living ‘near a narrow neck of land’.
Kortzhals origins can be traced to the German state of Bavaria in the 14th century, where the name was first recorded in documents. Later, it surfaced in Silesia, and eventually spread across Germany and the rest of Europe. Over time, the spelling of the name has changed quite dramatically, as people moved from region to region.
In the Netherlands, the Kortzhals surname is fairly common and was first found in Friesland, a province in the northern part of the country. In the United States, the surname is found mainly in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Illinois, where many Dutch and German immigrants settled.
In Germany, some of the common variants of Kortzhals are Kortzhaal and Kortzhaler. In the Netherlands, Kortzgaler and Kortgals are often used. In addition, there are variations of the name in other countries of Europe, such as France (Kortzhels) and Estonia (Kortjalcke).
Overall, Kortzhalls is a surname of Dutch, German or Baltic origin and has many variants, spellings and surnames of similar origin. The most common are Kortzhaal, Kortzgales, Kortgals, Kortzhols and Kortjalcke.
Famous people with the name Kortzhals
- Kyle Kortzhals: American-born professional basketball player for FC Bayern Munich of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL)
- Hans Kortzhals: former Dutch professional footballer
- Jan Kortzhals: German historian and medievalist
- Alicia Kortzhals: Australian curler
- Bruce Kortzhals: an American film editor
- Michelle Kortzhals: a psychotherapist in California
- John Kortzhals: a Canadian retired hockey player
- Richelle Kortzhals: winner of the 2005 Miss Iowa USA pageant
- Don Kortzhals: a Major League Baseball pitcher from 1954–60
- Tiffany Kortzhals: a television actress, appearing in shows like Star Trek: Voyager
- Michael Kortzhals: a retired professional MMA fighter
- Douglas Kortzhals: American tax lawyer and author
- Jelle Kortzhals: Belgian footballer
- Peter Kortzhals: a German actor and screenwriter
- Bart Kortzhals: Dutch engineer and inventor