Surname Knörzer - Meaning and Origin
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Knörzer: What does the surname Knörzer mean?
Knörzer is an uncommon last name of German origin. It is most commonly found along the Rhine where many German immigrants settled in the 19th century. The name is derived from the Middle High German word “knören,” meaning “to bind,” and thus the name refers to an “occupational surname for someone who bound or twisted something together,” such as a rope or wire.
How the last name came to the Rhineland is unknown, since there are currently no records or accounts of individual Knörzers. However, one possible theory is that the Knörzer family originated from the area around Essingen, located in the northern Bavarian region of Swabia. As far back as the year 1000, many people from Swabia migrated to the Rhineland and began to settle. It is possible that the Knörzers were a part of that migration.
Over the centuries, the usage of the last name Knörzer has diminished. Today most Knörzers are scattered throughout other regions in Germany, such as the areas around Munich, Berlin, and Frankfurt. There are also a few Knörzer families in the United States, mostly descendants of German immigrants who came to America in the second half of the 19th century. Despite its rarity, the last name Knörzer still stands as a testimony to the family's long history in the Rhineland and its role in the German diaspora.
Order DNA origin analysisKnörzer: Where does the name Knörzer come from?
The last name Knörzer is primarily found in Germany and Austria today, where it is considered a relatively rare surname. In Germany, the greatest concentrations of the Knörzer surname are in the regions of Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg, two of Germany's sixteen states, while in Austria it is most common in the state of Vorarlberg.
According to archives, the name Knörzer is derived from the word "Knürchen," which is a diminutive form of the name "Knorr," and was used to indicate a person of diminutive stature. It was most likely derived from one of the Germanic names Konrad, Konrath or Cunrad and was first found in Germany, where it was first recorded in the late 13th century. Over the years, Knörzer has seen many variations, from Knorzer to Knahrzer.
Examples of prominent individuals with the name Knörzer include Paul Knörzer (1868-1934), a German naturalist and explorer, and Wilhelm Knörzer (1871-1944), an Austrian Academy Award-winning cinematographer who worked on various films in the 1920s and 1930s. An example of a modern Knörzer is Karl Knörzer (born 1994), a German ice hockey player who currently competes with the Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg team.
Variations of the surname Knörzer
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Knörzer are as follows:
Knöerzer - This is the German and Swiss spelling of the surname, which is also sometimes written as Knörzer.
Knoerzer - This spelling is predominantly seen in the United States, Canada and other anglophone countries, where it is often written as Knoerzer.
Knörs - This is an archaic spelling of the surname, popularly seen in countries which were a part of the German-speaking parts of Europe. It is sometimes also seen as Knors.
Knaur - This is a common variant of the surname Knörzer. It is believed to have originated in 15th century Austria and is also seen in other parts of Germany.
Knerr - This spelling is seen in Swabian regions of Germany, particularly in south-western Germany. Knerr is also used in parts of the United States and Canada.
Knarts - This variant of the surname is seen mainly in the northern parts of Germany and Switzerland, where it is still a popular surname.
Knaerzer - This variant of the surname is seen mainly in Austria, where it has been in use since the 16th century.
Knötzsch - This spelling is seen mainly in the Czech Republic and other parts of Eastern Europe. It is also seen in parts of Germany and other countries in Western Europe.
Knoetzel - This spelling is often seen in parts of the United States and Canada where German immigrants settled in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Seigler - This is an Americanized version of the surname, seen in the United States and Canada. It is believed to have originated from the German variation of the surname.
Knörzer is a German-origin surname dating back to the 15th century and is still quite popular in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other parts of Europe. It has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin which are still in use today.
Famous people with the name Knörzer
- Gerhard Knörzer: German aviator and military officer, credited with inventing the Knorr-Lilienthal tandem-wing glider in 1922.
- Christian Knörzer: athlete and winner of silver medal in the pole vault event at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.
- Maria Knörzer: German actress and theater director best known for her performance in the television series, ‘Der Zerbrochene Krug’.
- Karl Knörzer: artist and composer of the classical repertoire for saxophone and member of multiple jazz bands.
- Wilfried Knörzer: professional tennis player, with a highest singles ranking of 208 in the world in 1995.
- Robert Knörzer: German amateur fencer, winner of the bronze medal in the men's team foil event at the 1952 Helsinki Summer Olympics.
- Bernd Knörzer: professional football player and coach, who represented Germany during the 1974 FIFA World Cup.
- Christian Knörzer: German modern pentathlete, winner of the bronze medal in the team event at the 1924 Paris Summer Olympics.
- Werner Knörzer: Austrian physicist and professor at the University of Vienna, renowned for his contributions in the field of atomic physics.
- Jakob Knörzer: German ski-jumper, credited as the winner of the gold medal in the large hill event at the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics.