Surname Zurkuhle - Meaning and Origin
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Zurkuhle: What does the surname Zurkuhle mean?
The last name Zurkuhle is of German origin. The name likely originates from the German noun zur Kuhle which means “to the pool” or “the small pool”. This is because the origin of the name is likely from an individual who resided by a small pool. The name could have either referred to a physical pool or to a pond or other body of water. Over time, the name was Anglicized to Zurkuhle.
Today, Zurkuhle is a fairly common last name and is found all over the world. It is primarily concentrated in Germany, the US, Canada, and Australia. As an occupational surname, Zurkuhle would have originally been an occupational name for someone who tended a small pool. It could have also been used as a topographic surname (a name that comes from a physical feature in the area).
The surname may also be related to the English surname Curl, which has a similar meaning and etymology. The surnames likely share a common origin. The surname is unique in that many variants are seen around the world, from Zurkuhle and Zurkuhlen to Zirkle and Zerkel.
No matter where it is found or how it is spelled, the surname Zurkuhle is an interesting reminder of a long-forgotten place with a small pool.
Order DNA origin analysisZurkuhle: Where does the name Zurkuhle come from?
The last name Zurkuhle is predominantly found in the United States today. According to ancestry.com, the 2019 United States Census revealed that Zurkuhle was the 11,232nd most common last name in America.
Zurkuhle is most often found across rural areas of the Midwest, particularly in states such as Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. In fact, ancestry.com data points to Wisconsin as having the highest density of Zurkuhles--the 2019 US Census revealed that almost 1 in every 10000 people in the state carry the surname.
Further, the name is reasonably common in the states of Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana, which border Wisconsin and Minnesota. Interestingly, the name is even more frequently found in certain rural townships of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Due to the size and accessibility of the United States, however, Zurkuhles live in other countries as well. While the 2019 US Census did not reveal any other significant concentrations of the name apart from the areas of the Midwest, there are still pockets of people today with this unique name all across the globe.
Variations of the surname Zurkuhle
The surname Zurkuhle originates from Northern Germany and can be spelt in various ways. Some of the more common variants are Zierkuhle, Zierkuhl, Zurkuhl and Zierkuhlen.
The surname could have started out as a topographical name, to describe someone who lived near a pool or pond. Alternatively, it may stem from a German habitational name for someone who lived at or by a house called Zurkuhle.
Other variations of the surname may include Surkuhlen, Zurkuhlen, Zirkuhlen, and Zirkuhl. It is likely that the surname has been anglicised in different countries, with Zurkuhle becoming Kirkhull, Kirkhulle, or Kirkhuls.
The surname can also be found in other countries throughout Europe. For example, in Poland it may be spelled Cerkulski or Cerkula, while in France variants include Zercule and Zerkule. In the Netherlands versions may include Zerkulen and Zirkulen.
The surname is definitely not common, and there is no single agreed definition of the origin of the name. It is likely that many of the variations are the result of regional differences and the anglicisation of the name over the centuries.
Famous people with the name Zurkuhle
- Johannes Zurkuhlen (musician/record producer)
- Julian Zurkuhlen (center/right back for VFR Aalen)
- Kris Zurkuhlen (track and field runner)
- Nancy Zurkuhlen (associate director at the American Council on Education)
- Lee Zurkuhlen (former NRL referee)
- Eugene Zurkuhlen (Canadian Army officer)
- Nicole Zurkuhlen (journalist and media entrepreneur)
- Kendall Zurkuhlen (former creative director at The New York Times opinon section)
- Will Zurkuhlen (political organizer, community activist)
- Brenda Zurkuhlen (award-winning florist and designer)