Surname Kriwet - Meaning and Origin

Kriwet: What does the surname Kriwet mean?

The last name Kriwet is an Alemannic German occupational name, derived from the Middle High German word “kriwac”, meaning “to knit”. It was used as a descriptive nickname for someone who was a knitter or a weaver.

The Kriwet surname is primarily found in Germany, with some records indicating that the name has also been found in Prussia, Netherlands, Austria, and in other countries in Central and Eastern Europe. It is still widely used today as a family name in Germany and the surrounding areas.

The meaning of the name has evolved over time, and is still used in some areas as a way to indicate membership in a specific regional group. It has also been used to symbolize a lasting tradition of craftsmanship, as knitting and weaving were once considered essential skills to many German villages and towns.

In the United States, the Kriwet name is most commonly associated with German immigrants who came to the US in the 19th and 20th centuries. Nowadays, the Kriwet last name is typically found in the areas where many German immigrants settled, such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Illinois.

Whatever its origins or current meaning, the Kriwet last name is a powerful symbol of the timelessness of family and tradition.

Kriwet: Where does the name Kriwet come from?

Kriwet is a surname native to Germany, where it is still one of the most common surnames today. The last name Kriwet originated in central and western parts of Germany (present day states of Saxony, Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg) and is derived from the old German word ‘krîwit’, meaning to navigate or to sail.

This surname is particularly common in the southwestern region of Germany, where it is so popular in Baden-Württemberg that an entire region in the state has been named ‘Kriwet’. Furthermore, the Kriwet surname is also found in other parts of Europe, notably in Austria and the Czech Republic.

Outside of Europe, the Kriwet surname can also be found in the United States and Canada, especially in areas populated by German immigrants. This indicates that many people with the Kriwet surname migrated to North America during the 19th and 20th centuries. While the Kriwet surname is much less common outside of Germany, it can still be found in significant numbers in parts of the United States and Canada.

Variations of the surname Kriwet

Kriwet is a variant form of the Germanic surname Krietwisch, originating from North Germany and the surrounding area. Krietwisch has been spelled in numerous different ways, with Krietwisch or Crytwisch being the more traditional spellings. Variations of Kriwet include Krietewitsch, Creutwisch, Kretwise, Krietwisch, Krietswisch, Krietevisch, Krietzweth, Krellwitz and Krillwitz.

Kriwet is a patronymic name derived from the pre-7th century personal name "Kriete", an ancient Germanic diminutive of "Krodd". The surname Kriwet then became established in areas throughout North Germany, with the earliest recorded occurrences of the name in the region taking place in the Brethenheim area in Rheinhessen in around 1450.

Surnames of similar origin include Kriedt, Krietemeyer, Krietmeyer, Krietemeier, Krietmeir, Kretschmer, Kreidorfer, Kreitz, Kreitzer and Kreuzberg. These names all originate from Germany, as Kriedt, Krietmeir and Kreidorfer all being derived from pre-7th century German sources.

Kriwet can also be found internationally, as it is a common surname in the Netherlands and many countries of Central Europe. It is also found in the United States, with the earliest recorded occurrences dating back to the late 19th century when immigrants fleeing Europe during the period settled in America.

Famous people with the name Kriwet

• Fritz Kriwet: A German art historian, faculty member at the Hochschule fur Gestaltung Offenbach (HfG Offenbach)and honorary professor at the University of Fine Arts of Hamburg.
• List Kriwet: A German opera singer, mainly active in the Soviet Union. He said of himself that he was "the first foreign opera singer and classical dancer accepted into the smuggs of the Academy of Performance Arts (API) in St Petersburg".
• Theodor Kriwet: A German Impressionist painter who was influenced by the Catalan artist Ramon Casas. Kriwet's work was also of interest to Expressionists such as Ernst Ludwig Kirchner.
• Max Kriwet: A German draughtsman and painter, associated with the Düsseldorf School.
• Carl Kriwet: A German Expressionist artist and founding member of the Novembergruppe, best known for his landscapes and series of portraits.
• Joseph Kriwet: An Austrian author of children's stories and fairy tales.
• Viktor Kriwet: A late French diplomat who served as ambassador to several countries.

Other surnames

Kriwett