Surname Kerschbaum - Meaning and Origin

Kerschbaum: What does the surname Kerschbaum mean?

The last name Kerschbaum is a German surname that originated from the word "Kirschbaum," which translates to "cherry tree" in English. It is derived from the German word "Kirsche," which means "cherry," and the word "Baum," meaning "tree."

Kerschbaum is thought to have originated as a toponymic surname, meaning that it was taken from an identifying feature of an ancestral home or land. Cherry trees are widely found in Germany and were probably prominent in the area where an ancestor of the Kerschbaums lived, catapulting the surname into use.

In most cases, the Kerschbaums probably got their name directly from the cherry tree in their front yard, garden, or local area. It's likely that they adopted the name and emblematic cherry tree due to its beauty and versatility in a variety of dishes and desserts.

As Kerschbaum spread, it evolved in a variety of spellings like Kierschbaumer in some regions, and usually included a whimsical variation of the word "Baum" like Paraumbaum. Kerschbaum is still common throughout Europe and has been carried to the Americas with German immigrants over the centuries.

The interesting thing is that today, you don’t have to be from Germany to have the last name Kerschbaum. While it was first used to distinguish people from one another, today the name carries the same legacy of a beautiful and sweet-tasting tree.

Kerschbaum: Where does the name Kerschbaum come from?

The last name Kerschbaum is most commonly found in German-speaking areas of Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

In Germany, the most densely populated region is the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, where about 6.66 in every 100,000 people have the last name Kerschbaum. Additionally, the states of Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, and North Rhine-Westphalia also have a significant concentration of people with the Kerschbaum surname.

In Austria, the last name Kerschbaum is most prevalent in the federal state of Tyrol, where about 4.77 of every 100,000 people have the surname. Moreover, the federal states of Salzburg, Styria, Upper Austria, and Vienna also contain significant populations of Kerschbaums.

In Switzerland, the surname Kerschbaum is most frequent in the canton of Bern, with a density of approximately 4.14 of every 100,000 people. Additionally, the cantons of Zürich, St. Gallen, Aargau, and Lucerne also contain significant numbers of people with the Kerschbaum last name.

Internationally, Kerschbaum is also found in the United States, Canada, and Australia, all of which have small but significant populations of people with the surname. In general, however, it is most common in German-speaking parts of Europe.

Variations of the surname Kerschbaum

Kerschbaum (German and Ashkenazi Jewish) is a surname of German and Jewish origin. It is most common in German-speaking countries, such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well as in Jewish diaspora communities across the world. Variations of the name include Kersch, Kerschbaumer, Kerschner, Kerchner, Kierschbaum, Kierschbaumer, Kierschner and Kierschner.

Kerschbaum is derived from the German word "Kirschtbaum" meaning "cherry tree". The surname likely originated as an occupational name for a cherry tree grower or a person from a place known for its cherry trees. It could also refer to a family who lived near such trees or who adopted the use of the fruit as an emblem.

The spelling and pronunciation of Kerschbaum may vary between different countries, cultures and dialects. For instance, in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, it is usually spelled with one or two s's (Kerschbaum, Kerschbaumer) and pronounced with a hard ‘ch’ sound. In English-speaking countries, it is usually spelled with two s's (Kersschbaum, Kersschbaumer) and pronounced with a soft ‘sh’ sound. In some Ashkenazi Jewish communities, it is sometimes written as Kierschbaum, Kierschbaumer, Kierschner or Kierschner.

Variants of Kerschbaum are commonly found in Jewish populations, including those in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. Today, many of those bearing the Kerschbaum surname can be found living outside of Europe, particularly in North America, Australia, South America and Israel.

Famous people with the name Kerschbaum

• Maximilian Kerschbaum: Austrian film director
• Andre Kerschbaum: award-winning German film director
• Laura Kerschbaum: German actress
• Yudayave Kerschbaum: Norwegian jazz pianist, composer, and arranger
• Joe Kerschbaum: American circus performer and tap dancer
• Katie Kerschbaum: Austrian photographer
• Herwig Kerschbaum: Austrian physicist
• Viktor Kerschbaum: Austrian cross-country skier
• Michèle Kerschbaum: French engineer and professor
• Ronald Kerschbaum: German football manager
• Yves Kerschbaum: Luxembourgian football manager
• Volker Kerschbaum: German CEO and Dean of the School of Business & Economics
• Artur Kerschbaum: Austrian rally driver
• Stephen Kerschbaum: American philanthropist
• Holger Kerschbaum: German archaeologist
• Franz Kerschbaum: Austrian/German co-founder of modern ecological planning
• Larry Kerschbaum: American TV writer, producer, and showrunner
• Florian Kerschbaum: German professor and computer scientist
• Nicholas Kerschbaum: American civil engineer
• Elke Kerschbaum: Austrian composer and sinologist

Other surnames

KerschbauerKerschbaumer