Surname Kortmeier - Meaning and Origin
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Kortmeier: What does the surname Kortmeier mean?
The surname Kortmeier is an German occupational surname, signifying one who is a peddler. It is derived from the word "Kort," which is derived from the Old Teutonic word "kuort," meaning both "small" and "peddler." This is also how the English word "quarter" derived.
The surname Kortmeier is particularly associated with the area in and around the Rhine River in Germany. This region was the birthplace of the Bockenheimer market, where peddlers would come to sell their goods on a regular basis. The peddler's tiny wares enabled them to "quarter" (divide) the small items for fair prices to various customers. Thus, the peddler was known as a Kortmeier, which became a term for all peddlers in the region.
When the Kortmeier family emigrated to other countries, such as the United States, the name was sometimes translated as "quarterman." Though the name itself has evolved over time, the occupational meaning behind it has remained the same.
Today, the name Kortmeier is most commonly found in the United States, but is still in existence throughout its native Germany as well. The name is a reminder of the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit of the occupation of a peddler hundreds of years ago.
Order DNA origin analysisKortmeier: Where does the name Kortmeier come from?
The last name Kortmeier is most commonly found in Germany. In recent years, it has seen interest from countries such as the United States, as families with German ancestry have begun to trace their roots. As of 2020, records from the popularity research website MyHeritage show that the surname is most prevalent in Northeast Germany, particularly in Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Brandenburg.
The name is most likely derived from the German words "kurz meier," which translates to mean "short of land," implying that members of the Kortmeier family likely had a history of farming or land ownership. Today, this surname is still common in the Northeastern part of Germany. Although its origins stem from the German language, it is found across a number of European countries including France, the Netherlands, and England.
In the United States, records show the presence of Kortmeiers as early as the 19th century. The family may have initially settled in the area of large German-speaking populations, such as Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana, before branching out and settling in other parts of the country. Migrant Kortmeiers may eventually have brought the surname to other parts of the United States, like California and New York.
The Kortmeier family is still prevalent today, both in Germany and the United States. It continues to be a sign of German ancestry and reflects its history of land ownership and farming.
Variations of the surname Kortmeier
The surname Kortmeier is a German patronymic name deriving from the ancient and given name Kort, itself derived from the Old German word ‘kurtz’ meaning ‘short’ and may be translated to mean ‘son of Kort’. It is also commonly found in Dutch and Scandinavian countries; the spelling of the name slightly changing to Kortmeijer when used in transcribing Dutch records.
Variants of the name Kortmeier, include the German surnames Kortmeyer and Kourtmeyer, as well as the Dutch surnames Kortmeijer and Kourtmeijer. Direct German spellings of the name may also appear in records as Kortmeir, Kortmair, Kortmairt, Kortmar or Kurtmair. The surname’s spelling may also appear in Dutch records as Kortmeijer, Kortmeier or Kourtmeijer, and other foreign spellings of the name may include Curtis, Curtiss, Curtaz, Kurtz and Kort.
The alternate surnames which may be derived from the same origin include Korth, Korten, Kortman, Kortje, Korte, Kortenfrei, Korthausen, Korthals and Korthauer.
The surname Kortmeier may also be found as part of a double-barreled name; most commonly with the surname Müller appended, as in Kortmeier-Müller. This combination of surnames may be translated to mean ‘son of Kort and Miller’.
Famous people with the name Kortmeier
- Helmut Kortmeier: A German politician from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
- Uwe Kortmeier: Former president and chairman of German sports equipment manufacturer Puma.
- Tom Kortmeier: American filmmaker, director, cinematographer, and production designer.
- Michael Kortmeier: An American award-winning journalist, podcast producer, and business marketing strategist.
- Peter Kortmeier: A German jazz musician and composer.
- Christopher Kortmeier: An American United States Air Force (USAF) Brigadier General.
- Lucie Kortmeier: A German singer and songwriter.
- Diamond Kortmeier: An American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the indie rock band Clear Beliefs.
- Johann Peter Kortmeier: A German composer, pianist, and teacher.
- Mandy Kortmeier: An American artist, illustrator, designer, and clothing designer.