Surname Korf - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Korf: What does the surname Korf mean?
The last name Korf is of German origin and is derived from the German word "Korf" meaning basket. Historically, it was used in the Middle Ages as an occupational name for workers in the basket-making industry. The name may also be related to the Dutch word "Korf" meaning basket, or corf meaning a bag or receptacle for carrying objects. It likely came into use as a surname during the 16th century.
The Korf surname is found chiefly in southwestern Germany and the Netherlands, although people with the Korf surname can be found elsewhere in countries around the world. In the United States, the Korf surname is most often found in New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and California.
People with the Korf surname are often creative and are driven to succeed. They know how to make the most of the possibilities in their lives, and can adapt easily to a variety of situations. They are often independent, and don't tend to take orders from others. They are often passionate and driven in the pursuit of their goals.
Korf is an ancient last name, steeped in tradition and rich in heritage. Today, people with the Korf surname carry on the legacy of the original basket-makers and live their lives with creativity and ambition.
Order DNA origin analysisKorf: Where does the name Korf come from?
The last name Korf is most common today in Germany and in Jewish communities around the world. In Germany, the name is most commonly found in the NorthRhine Westphalia region and in cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, and Cologne.
Jewish communities with the last name Korf can be found in the United States, Argentina, Ukraine, Israel, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, the last name is mostly concentrated in New York and California, along with areas of the mid-Atlantic states and Florida. Though among lesser numbers, the last name can also be found in other business and Jewish hubs around the world like Argentina, Ukraine, Israel, Canada, and the UK.
Tracing back to its origins, Korf is believed to derived from the Dutch for 'basket'. Records from the late 1600s show a Hermann Korf as the first recorded bearer of the Korf surname. Over the centuries, Korf political and religious persecution meant many members of the Korf family were forced to flee to places like America, where many of today's Korfs trace their lineage. Today, the Korf name is more commonly found as an Americanized version of the name, though there are still many people who bear the original form of the name in their homeland of Germany.
Variations of the surname Korf
The surname Korf is of German origin and means ‘basket,’ ‘coffer’ or ‘box.’ There are numerous variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of them are:
Korff, Kirf, Kiefer, Kerf, Korfhage, Korfhagen, Körfer, Körfges, Körffel, Körffels, Körfing, Körfingen, Körflinger, Körflingen, Theurer, Thürer, Thürermaier, Thüring, Thürin, Thürmeir, Thorner, Thurner, and Thürner.
Variants of Korf include Korff, Körf, Körfhag, Kerf, and Körffel. Spellings of the surname include Korfhagen, Körffels, Körfingen, Körflinger, and Körflingen.
Common surnames of the same origin include Thürermaier, Thüring, Thürin, Thürmeir, Thorner, Thurner, and Thürner. Theurer and Thürer are alternative spellings and variations of the same surname.
Korf is a surname with various variations and spellings of the same origin. It is most commonly found in Northern Europe, primarily Germany, and has a variety of forms and variants.
Famous people with the name Korf
- Bob Korf: American actor in film, television, and stage.
- Melinda Korf: American feminist art historian and professor who has authored several books and taught courses on art history.
- Oskar Korf: German SS officer during World War II.
- Andreas Korf: German soccer player who plays for VfL Bochum in the 2nd Bundesliga.
- Terry Korf: American sports announcer who spent 30 years calling the games for the New York Mets baseball team.
- Maurits Korf: Dutch politician and diplomat who served in the government of the Netherlands from 1947 to 1968.
- Stefan Korf: German classical music composer best known for works like the operas Ein Tag in Jerusalem and Chaos, as well as an oratorio, Dem Frieden im Sinn.
- Philip F.Korf: American neurologist and professor best known for his work in neuromuscular disorders and spinal muscular atrophy research.
- Elizabeth Korf: American poet and professor who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1999 for her collection of poems, "The Molting Season".
- Richard Kirschner Korf: German composer and music theorist who wrote a number of important textbooks on musical theory.