Surname Kerber - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Unveiling Kerber Lineage: Unearthed Ancestry and Global Connections with the iGENEA DNA Test
The transformative impact of using the iGENEA DNA test for personal discovery is explored here. From exploring the history of the Kerber surname to facilitating global familial connections, this DNA test has proven to be a profound and enlightening tool.
E. Kerber
read moreKerber: What does the surname Kerber mean?
The last name Kerber is a Germanic name derived from the word "kerb," which means "a person who lived near a corner or turning of a road." This name is found mainly in Central and Eastern Europe, probably because of its German origin. It is also thought to be related to a similar Slavic name with a similar meaning.
In Germany, continued use of the name Kerber is typically associated with the Bavarian region. People with this surname may have done so to identify themselves as belonging to one of the many diverse dialectal "Kerber" mixed-linguistic villages of that region. The first historical record of the Kerber surname appears to have been in Germany during the 13th century.
Kerber is a fairly rare last name, with meaning and variants extending across numerous countries, cultures, and time periods. While the exact origin story may remain unknown, what is certain is that the Kerber name has been shared across many generations within families of similar heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisKerber: Where does the name Kerber come from?
The last name Kerber is a German surname, historically originating from the area along the Elbe River in what is now known as East Germany. Today, this surname is commonly found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, and the Czech Republic, as well as in North and South America, including the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile.
In the United States, Kerber is the 595th most common surname in the 2020 US Census, according to surname distribution provided by the Census Bureau. Most thousands of people who bear this surname in the United States trace their ancestral roots to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Polish-German borderlands region. It is also not uncommon for people with the Kerber surname to have immigrated to the United States from other parts of the world, particularly from central and eastern European countries.
The Kerber surname has been in in North America since the 1600s, when many German and Swiss immigrants first came to the New World. The most common locations for Kerbers are the states of Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and Illinois.
In German, Kerber means "blacksmith." Historically, the surname would have been a way for authorities to keep track of the movement of the blacksmiths, who during medieval and pre-medieval times, were highly mobile craftsmen and peddlers, who often traveled great distances in order to ply their trade.
Variations of the surname Kerber
The surname Kerber has quite a few variants, spellings and surnames of similar origin. Some common variants, spellings and surnames include Kirberger, Körber, Kerbbacher, Kieber, Körbger, Kürbger, Korbger, Kürbger, Kürger, Kiebler, Kürbler, and Körbler.
The variations and spellings for the surname Kerber can vary depending on the country and region the surname is found in. For example, in the German-speaking parts of Europe it is fairly common to find the letter ‘ö’ in the spelling of the surname. In other countries such as the United States, the letter ‘ö’ is usually substituted with the letter ‘o’. In some cases the letter ‘r’ is also substituted with the letter ‘z’ or ‘w’ to produce different variations of Kerber.
The term ‘Kerber’ is often used interchangeably with other surnames such as Kirberger, Kerbbacher, Körber, Kieber, and Körbger. All of these surnames can be considered to be of similar origin, as they all derive from the Middle High German 'Kerprer'.
In a number of countries, the surname Kerber has also become a surname of Jewish origin, when it had been adopted by some Jewish families from Germany.
The name Kerber has spread across the world, with the surname being found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and many others. The spelling and variants of the surname have changed over time, as it has become more and more common in countries across the world.
Famous people with the name Kerber
- Angelique Kerber: German professional tennis player who has won three Grand Slam singles titles, won the 2016 Summer Olympics, and was ranked number-one in the world in 2016 and 2017.
- Anna Kerber: German Olympic and world champion swimmer and world record holder in the 4x200 m freestyle.
- Fritz Kerber: Austrian Olympic champion foil fencer.
- Gretel Bergmann: German-born Jewish high jumper who competed for Germany in the 1936 Summer Olympics. Despite being the German national champion, she was barred from competing at the games due to her Jewish ancestry.
- Anton Kerber: Austrian-Hungarian painter, ceramic artist, and copper engraver who is best known for his landscapes and portrait drawings.
- Franz Xaver Kerber: German landscape painter who specialized in Alpine views and was one of the most respected painters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Karoline Kerber: German artist best known for her illustrative work exploring identity, gender, and cultural orientations.
- Michael Kerber: American business executive and entrepreneur best known for his role as CEO of toymaker Mattel from 1995 to 2000.
- Moyses Kerber: Uruguayan footballer who played as a defensive midfielder for several Brazilian and Uruguayan clubs between 2008 and 2013.
- Peter Kerber: Austrian politician and member of the Green Party who served as a Member of the National Council of Austria from 2004 to 2008.