Surname Korver - Meaning and Origin

Korver: What does the surname Korver mean?

Korver is a Dutch surname derived from the Middle Dutch term korver, which means "toolmaker" and " craftsman". The origins of the name can be traced back to the Drenthe region of the Netherlands during the 12th century. This surname is unrelated to the surname of NBA player Kyle Korver, which is of Dutch-Scandinavian origin.

The surname Korver refers primarily to toolmakers and craftsmen, which is reflected in the occupations of those who carried the name in early records. Artisans such as wingmakers, joiners, blacksmiths, and thatchers were frequently recorded using the surname. The name also appeared in records of innkeepers and liquor brewers.

In addition to toolmakers and craftsman, Korver is a common surname among Dutch settlers who arrived in America beginning in the 17th century. Specifically, it is a common surname among American settlers of Dutch-Huguenot descent.

The surname is also fairly common in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in the former British Empire.

In modern times, the surname Korver is most often associated with the NBA basketball player Kyle Korver, who is of Dutch-Scandinavian origin and not related to the Dutch Korver family.

Korver: Where does the name Korver come from?

The Dutch surname Korver is most commonly seen today in the Netherlands, with an estimated 42,000 people bearing the name. It is also quite popular in Belgium, where it is quite a bit less frequent but still ranks among the top 200 most common surnames.

Outside of Europe, Korver is especially prominent in the United States. In 2007, the US Census estimated that there were nearly 75,000 people with the surname in the country. It is especially common in the Midwestern states, particularly Minnesota—the state with the most Korvers in the country—Wisconsin, and Iowa. In these states, it is generally found among people of Dutch or Belgian heritage.

Korver is also somewhat common in Canada and Australia, both having thousands of people with the name in the most recent censuses. Canada’s Korver population is especially concentrated in Ontario, which is home to the third-largest population of them in the world. Likewise, in Australia nearly two-thirds of the people with the surname live in the state of Victoria.

All told, it is estimated that around 154,000 people in the world bear the surname Korver. Despite the geographically distant and widely dispersed pockets of Korvers, the surname still widely retains its ties to its Dutch and Belgian roots.

Variations of the surname Korver

Korver is the Dutch variant of the surname Korfmaker, which translates to "basket maker". The variants of this name are Köfmaker, Kover, Korfmacher, Korfes, and Korver.

Kover is the most common alternative spelling of this surname, found predominantly in the Netherlands. As the spelling is phonetically identical to Korver, the name is often used interchangeably with the original surname, Korver.

Many surnames are derived from the given name "Korfmaker". Some of these surnames include Kovering, Kovermann, Koffman, Koff, Koffert, and Koffen. All these surname variants are derived from the original name Korfmaker.

Korver is a relatively common Dutch surname and is most commonly found in western Europe; however, the variants of this surname have spread all across Europe and around the world. The Netherlands, Germany, and the United States are three of the most common countries to have the Korver surname.

In addition to those given above, the following are also some of the common variants of the Korver surname: Korfers, Koffen, Koffert, Korvering, Kovermann, Koffman, and Koff. The interchangeability of these surnames reflects the continual evolution of languages over time; different countries and regions may each adopt different variations of a name which, over time, become deeply associated with that particular region.

Famous people with the name Korver

• Kyle Korver: American professional basketball player who last played for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
• Klayton Korver: American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA.
• Kirk Korver: American professional basketball executive who currently serves as assistant general manager for the Phoenix Suns of the NBA.
• Kaleb Korver: Retired American basketball player who spent time in the NBA and EuroLeague between 2010 and 2020.
• Dirk Korver: Former American professional basketball player who was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1993 and last played in 2003.
• Kevyn Korver: American doctor of psychology and professor of psychology at Azusa Pacific University.
• Kari Korver: American professional soccer player who currently plays for Sky Blue FC in the National Women’s Soccer League.
• Kurt Korver: American former collegiate and professional baseball player, best known for his career in Major League Baseball with the Atlanta Braves.
• Kevin Korver: American professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League.
• Katherine Korver: Model, actress, and professional dancer known for portraying the role of Anatolie in the musical Allegiance.

Other surnames

Körvers