Surname Kerbach - Meaning and Origin

Kerbach: What does the surname Kerbach mean?

The last name Kerbach has Germanic origin, derived from the medieval personal name Karbicho, which in turn derived from the Germanic element kar meaning "brave" or “hardy.” The various spellings of the name can be attributed to different regional adaptations over time.

The Kerbach surname first appeared in Bavaria in Germany, where the family became a prominent contributor to the developing feudal society. The family included many powerful and influential members of society, and belonged to the lower nobility. The successive generations of the Kerbach family would become fully established as a notable family in the region by the 1600s.

Over the years, members of the Kerbach family spread across Europe. As they spread, many members would eventually maintain their family heritage and assumed the surname Kerbach.

Today, people with the last name Kerbach can be found throughout the world. Despite the distance between family members, many Kerbach descendents remain closely connected throughout the world, with some of the most notable today being Austrian actor Werner Kerbach, who won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1995.

Kerbach: Where does the name Kerbach come from?

The last name Kerbach is most common today in the eastern regions of Europe, particularly in countries such as the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, and Austria. In the United States, the last name Kerbach is most prevalent in areas with higher levels of immigration from these countries, such as parts of Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, and California. Most people with this last name are of Central European descent, with some Metholics of German lineage also bearing the name.

The origin of the Kerbach name most likely stems from the Middle High German word “kerbe”, which roughly translates as “bend” or “twisted”. It is also believed that the name could have its roots from the German word “Kerbholz”, which describes a rounded tree trunk or log with a visible bend.

The name Kerbach has been believed to have been first used in the 13th century, and can have variations over time due to migration and regional pronunciation. Some common variations today include Kerbach, Kurbach, Kurbach, Kĕrbách, Kęrbach, and Kěrbách.

Despite its relative rarity compared to other last names, the Kerbach name is still widely used today in Europe and can be found in a few pockets of the United States. With its unique Central European roots, it is likely to remain in circulation for many years to come.

Variations of the surname Kerbach

Kerbach is a surname of German and Jewish origin, with variants and spellings including Kerbacher, Kerbich, Kerbesh, Kerbes, Kerbesch, Kerbis, Kerebs, and Kerbesh.

Kerbach is derived from the Low German word kerbauchen meaning “to deal in peddlers' clothing,” in reference to a dealer or merchant. It is likely that the surname originates with a person who had a profession such as cloth merchant or peddler.

The Germanic variants of Kerbach include Kerbacher, Kerbich, and Kerbes. The Jewish variants are derived from the Hebrew “Kerbeth.” These variants include Kerbesh, Kerbesch, Kerbis, Kerebs, and Kerbesh.

Kerbeth and Kerbesch are both common in Jewish culture, since the suffix “-esch” or “-eth” was often used to indicate descent from a place name or other ancestral origin. This is demonstrated in the Kerbeth surname, which may originate from the German city of Kuerbach.

The options are numerous, but all have the same common origin of the Low German word kerbauchen, and usually signify someone connected in some way with peddling or clothing. Regardless of which exact variant of the name is used, it can be generally assumed that Kerbach or one of its many variants were originally the chosen surname of a cloth or peddling dealer.

Famous people with the name Kerbach

• Ilya Kerbach: Russian professional squash player
• Allegra Kerbach: Lead Singer in the Swing rock band, The Rifles
• Monique Kerbach: French actress
• Ksenia Kerbach: Belarusian model
• Pavel Kerbach: Russian cross-country skier
• Jules Kerbach: French race car driver
• Jenn Kerbach: American voice actor
• Joseph Kerbach: French sculptor
• Chris Kerbach: German magician and illusionist
• Eric Kerbach: American Soccer player

Other surnames

Kerbaugh