Surname Kurzius - Meaning and Origin
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Kurzius: What does the surname Kurzius mean?
The last name Kurzius is of German and Lithuanian origin, and is most commonly found in Lithuania. The literal meaning of the last name is ‘short’. It is also derived from the given name ‘Kurt’ which was popular during the 19th century in Germany and Lithuania; a derivative of the Old German ‘Kurzo/Kurtz’.
In some cases, the last name Kurzius can be considered a descriptive name, referring to an individual’s physical appearance or character. For instance, Kurzius may have been used as an occupational name, referring to someone who was short in stature such as a dwarf or low ranking servant. Even today, there are surnames in Lithuania that refer to an individual’s physical appearance such as ‘Platus’, meaning ‘wide’, and ‘Virmalis’, meaning ‘narrow’.
Kurzius also appears to have been popular during the 19th century in Lithuania as a metonymic occupational name, often referring to merchants or someone who does business. Such individuals were likely to have been of average height.
Overall, the last name Kurzius has various origins and could refer to an individual’s physical features or occupation. It is a rather common Lithuanian name and is still used to this day.
Order DNA origin analysisKurzius: Where does the name Kurzius come from?
The last name Kurzius is most commonly found in former Soviet Bloc countries such as Lithuania, Russia, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Ukraine, Moldova, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. It is also found in northern and eastern parts of European countries such as Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Finland, Sweden, and Norway.
The origin of the surname Kurzius is uncertain however records of villages with the same name in Lithuania and Sweden date back to the fifteenth century. It is also likely that the Kurzius surname originated from either the Lithuanian Kurzweil or Kurzabal which means 'short man' or 'short tail'. In the sixteenth century, many members of this family spread to Germany, Austria, Poland and other European countries.
In present day, the surname Kurzius is most commonly found in Eastern Europe with a large concentration in Lithuania and Russia. It is estimated that over 10,000 people all over the world bear this surname. Kurzius is still most closely associated with its ancestral home in Lithuania with over 800 residents having this name as of 2020.
Variations of the surname Kurzius
Kurzius is a surname of Polish, German, and Jewish origin. Variants and spellings of this surname include Kurtzius, Kurtzus, Kurtsius, Kurczius, Kurezius, Kurtsius, Kurczynski, and Kurczewski. It is a patronymic surname, meaning it was formed by adding the suffix "-ius" or "-ski" to the given name of the father or ancestor of the original bearer.
The earliest traceable ancestor of this surname is recorded in 1576 as a man named Hieronim Kurzius, who was a tailor from Bydgoszcz, Poland. In Catholic records during the 16th Century, another man named Jacob Kurzius from Bydgoszcz was recorded.
Kurzius can also be seen in the forms Kurciuz, Kurciusz, Kursziusz, and Kurszewsky. This is mostly seen in the Germanic states and lands within Prussia. It is also seen in Jewish populations in the forms Kurczewski and Kurczynski, likely from those who adopted such a surname to differentiate between families.
In Russia, it was sometimes Romanized as Kurcivink, Komertz, or Koertz, but more rarely. Nevertheless, in some instances, the name was Anglicised as Kurcius in the United States. There have also been instances of the surname being altered to Kurcivy, Trotz, Trots, and Rotz in Pennsylvania.
In short, there are many variants of the surname Kurzius, including its patronymic variants in the forms of Kurtzius, Kurtzus, Kurtsius, Kurczius, Kurezius, Kurtsius, Kurczynski and Kurczewski. In Germany, it was sometimes seen in the forms Kurciuz, Kurciusz, Kursziusz, and Kurszewsky. In Russia, it was sometimes Romanized as Kurcivink, Komertz, or Koertz and occasionally it was Anglicised as Kurcius in the United States and altered to Kurcivy, Trotz, Trots, and Rotz in Pennsylvania.
Famous people with the name Kurzius
- Joanna Kurzius: a renowned fashion designer who has collaborated with Hermès, Burberry, and Estée Lauder, among other luxury fashion brands.
- Kevin Kurzius: a professional Counter-Strike: Global Offensive player and member of the Cloud9 team, as well as a former member of the Team Liquid roster.
- Eva Kurzius: biography of a German-born Yugoslavian Jew, survivor of Auschwitz-Birkenau, and notorious concentration camp inmate.
- Ron Kurzius: professional collegiate baseball coach who has won multiple Big 12 Coach of the Year awards in addition to a National Coach of the Year award during his tenure at the University of Texas in Austin.
- Joe Kurzius: a professional football player who was drafted in the fourth round of the 1985 NFL draft by the New York Jets.
- Yolanda Kurzius: a world-famous music producer, songwriter, and singer who has worked with artists such as Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, and Britney Spears among others.
- Diane Kurzius: American film historian, author, and professor who has written extensively on the history of the motion picture industry.
- Melina Kurzius: Oscar-winning art director from Germany who has worked on films like The Hobbit trilogy, Man of Steel, and Wolverine.
- Mark Kurzius: a renowned environmental scientist who specializes in air pollution and has served as a consultant to the Environmental Protection Agency for multiple projects.
- Stephen Kurzius: Emmy-winning special effects artist who has worked on films such as Star Trek: First Contact, The Matrix, and Jurassic Park.