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

Kurtz, 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 Kurtz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kurtz in America

Kurtz is the 1476th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kurtz surname appeared 24,216 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 8 people would have the surname Kurtz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kurtz 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 Kurtz

The surname Kurtz is of German origin and is believed to have first emerged in the 13th century. It is derived from the Middle High German word "kurz," which means "short" or "brief." The name is thought to have originally been a descriptive nickname given to someone of short stature or a person with a short temper.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Kurtz can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, Germany, dating back to the 13th century. The name appears as "Curt" and "Curtze," which are believed to be early variations of the modern spelling.

In the 15th century, the surname Kurtz is mentioned in the Zimmern Chronicle, a historical account of the Zimmern family from the region of Swabia in southwestern Germany. The chronicle mentions a "Hans Kurtz," suggesting that the name was in use in this area during that time period.

One notable individual with the surname Kurtz was Johann Kurtz, a German astronomer and mathematician who lived from 1574 to 1651. He is known for his contributions to the development of the Gregorian calendar and his work on celestial mechanics.

Another historical figure with the name Kurtz was Johann Gottfried Kurtz, a German theologian and author who lived from 1654 to 1720. He wrote extensively on religious topics and is remembered for his work in promoting the spread of Pietism, a religious movement within Lutheranism.

In the 19th century, the surname Kurtz was associated with several notable individuals, including the German author and philosopher Hermann Kurtz (1813-1892), and the American historian and author John Nicholas Kurtz (1820-1892), who wrote extensively on the history of the United States.

The name Kurtz has also been linked to various place names in Germany, such as Kurtzenhausen, a town in the state of Baden-Württemberg, and Kurtzenberg, a hill in the region of Swabia. These place names may have influenced the spelling and spread of the surname over time.

Throughout history, the surname Kurtz has maintained its Germanic roots and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, authors, and religious figures. While its origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages, the name has endured and continues to be used in various parts of the world today.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kurtz

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

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 Kurtz 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 Kurtz 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 Kurtz was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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