Korty
A surname derived from the Germanic word "kort" meaning short or small.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 171 Americans carry the last name Korty. That puts it at #120,901 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,004,411 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Korty surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
171
1 in 2,004,411
Census rank
#120,901
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
143
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 143 bearers of the surname Korty in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 120901st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Korty, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.2%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Korty
The surname Korty has its origins in the German language, with the earliest recorded examples dating back to the late 15th century. The name is believed to have originated in the region of Bavaria, which was part of the Holy Roman Empire during that period.
One of the earliest known references to the Korty name can be found in a registry of citizens in the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, which dates back to 1492. The entry lists a certain Hans Korty, who was a blacksmith by trade. This provides evidence that the name was already in use in southern Germany during the late medieval period.
Linguists have suggested that the Korty name may be derived from the German word "kort," which means "short" or "small." This could indicate that the name was originally a descriptive surname, given to someone of shorter stature or smaller build. However, it's also possible that the name originated from a place name or a variant spelling of a particular location.
In the 16th century, records show that the Korty name had spread to other parts of Germany, with families bearing the name residing in cities such as Nuremberg and Augsburg. One notable individual from this era was Johannes Korty, a Protestant theologian born in 1541 who taught at the University of Jena and authored several religious texts.
As the centuries progressed, the Korty surname continued to be found throughout Germany and other parts of Europe. In the 18th century, a German artist named Johann Korty gained recognition for his landscape paintings and etchings. He was born in 1721 in the town of Weimar and is considered one of the earliest exponents of the Romantic movement in German art.
During the 19th century, the Korty name also made its way to the United States, with immigrants from Germany and other European countries bringing the surname to the New World. One notable American with the Korty surname was William Korty, a politician and diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1986 to 1989.
Other individuals of historical significance with the Korty surname include Friedrich Korty, a German military officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars (1771-1856), and Erich Korty, a German-American filmmaker and producer who directed the 1967 film "The Green Slime" (1917-2003).
While the Korty name has its roots in Germany and can be traced back to the late medieval period, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by families and individuals who have contributed to various fields throughout history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Korty
Among Census respondents with the surname Korty, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.2%.
The bar chart below shows how Korty bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Korty surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Korty surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #120,901 | #120,901 | 0.0% |
| Count | 143 | 143 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Korty bearers went from 143 to 143 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #120,901 to #120,901.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Korty
FAQ
Korty surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Korty?
The surname Korty holds position #120,901 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 171 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Korty surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Korty, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.2%. These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.