Find out how popular the last name Kurt is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Kurt.

Kurt, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Kurt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kurt in America

Kurt is the 18078th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kurt surname appeared 1,542 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Kurt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kurt to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Kurt

The surname Kurt has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged in the 12th century. It is derived from the German word "kurz," which means "short" or "brief." The name was likely given as a descriptive nickname to someone of short stature.

In the medieval period, the name Kurt was found predominantly in southern German regions, such as Bavaria and Swabia. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from the 12th century, where a person named Kurt von Nürnberg is mentioned.

The name Kurt also appeared in various historical records and manuscripts from the 13th and 14th centuries, including the Codex Traditionum Westfalicarum and the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis. These records often mentioned individuals with the surname Kurt in connection with land ownership or legal disputes.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Kurt was Heinrich Kurt, a German scholar and theologian who lived in the late 13th century. He is known for his works on canon law and theology.

In the 15th century, the name Kurt was associated with several prominent figures, including Johannes Kurt, a German mathematician and astronomer born in 1425. He made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and is best known for his work on planetary motion.

Another notable bearer of the surname Kurt was Hans Kurt, a German painter and engraver born in 1480. He is renowned for his religious artwork and woodcut prints, which were highly influential in the Renaissance period.

During the 16th century, the name Kurt was found in various regions of Germany, including the towns of Nürnberg, Augsburg, and Erfurt. One famous individual with this surname from this time was Martin Kurt, a German theologian and reformer born in 1520. He was a prominent figure in the Protestant Reformation and worked closely with Martin Luther.

In the 17th century, the surname Kurt appeared in the records of the Thirty Years' War, where several soldiers and military officers bore this name. One such individual was Johann Kurt, a German general born in 1605, who played a significant role in the latter stages of the war.

Throughout its history, the surname Kurt has been associated with various professions, including scholars, artists, and military leaders. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Germany, the name has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kurt

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Kurt.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Kurt was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Kurt has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Kurt was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kurt, please contact us.

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