Surname Kwirant - Meaning and Origin
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Kwirant: What does the surname Kwirant mean?
The last name Kwirant is a toponymic name derived from the old rural area of Kvirstant in Lithuania. According to records dating back to 1790, the family lived in the town of Kvirstant in the Vilnius region and belonged to the Kvirstantis family. The name Kwirant is believed to stem from a Lithuanian word meaning "oak tree."
The family likely originated from the region of Kvirstant and settled in nearby villages where they prospered. With the increasing industrialization of the region in the twentieth century, many members of the Kwirant family migrated abroad.
Today, the Kwirant surname is most commonly found in the United States but it can also be found in Brazil, Israel, and other countries. It is estimated that approximately 4,000 people living in the US are of the Kwirant family.
Despite its origins, the surname Kwirant carries with it a sense of pride and legacy that spans generations and geography. It is a reminder of where the family originated and how far they have come in their journey. It is also a reminder of the strong bonds that family members share and the importance of always being connected to one’s roots.
Order DNA origin analysisKwirant: Where does the name Kwirant come from?
The surname Kwirant is most commonly found in South Africa today. It is believed to have been derived from a Dutch name, which was brought to the country by settlers in the 17th century. The name then spread to other parts of the continent as refugees and immigrants moved across the region. The family likely originates from Europe, where the name is still common, such as in the Netherlands and Germany. The Kwirant surname is also widespread in the United States and Canada, due to influxes of South African immigrants in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Analyses of the United States Census data from 1880 to 2020 indicates that the number of individuals with the surname Kwirant has steadily increased over time.
The name is not as common in other places around the globe and may be most associated with South Africa. Social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook list several similar professions shared by individuals with the surname Kwirant. These include software engineer, financial analyst, human resources manager, and sales representative.
The name has also emerged in literature, with one prominent South African author bearing the name. Published in 2011, A Kwirant’s Story details the experiences of a German-Jewish refugee family that escaped to South Africa from Nazi Germany, before they were eventually forced to flee back to Europe.
The Kwirant surname will likely continue to remain most commonly found in South Africa, the United States, and Canada, amid ongoing immigration and refugee movements. As the population of citizens bearing this name increases, it will become more widely known and recognized around the globe.
Variations of the surname Kwirant
The surname Kwirant is an old English name that likely has its origins near the eastern coast of England and possibly further afield. It is an alternative spelling of the names Quirant, Quirent, and Quayrent. The name certainly has ancient roots, with spelling variants showing up as far back as the 15th century.
Variations of the Kwirant surname over the centuries have included Kwiranc, Kwyerawnte, Kwiraunt, Kyrent, Kwyeraunt, Kyrynt, Kwyerauntz, Kwirieaunt, Kyryant, Kybyraunt and Kwyebyraunt. The most commonly seen modern spellings of the surname are Kwirant, Quirant, Quirent, and Quayrent.
In addition to the variations in spelling, there are also a number of surnames of similar origin, such as Kweirant, Kwerant, Kweirantt, Kwierant, Kweront, Kwarrent, Kweranti, Kwernut, Kwerynt, Kwerynnt, and Kweryant.
The surname Kwirant is said to derive from the Old English words cwyr (meaning 'strong') or cwir (meaning 'able') and aont or ent (conveying 'power' or 'current'), thus suggesting 'strong energy' or 'force of will'. It is also thought that the name could have Norman roots, with the 'ent' now exchanged for 'aunt', suggesting the 'nourishing force'.
As with many old English surnames, the Kwirant surname has many spellings and variations and can be found today scattered across various corners of the world.
Famous people with the name Kwirant
- Saba Kwirant, American Singer
- Edwin Kwirant, American politician from Kansas
- Ricardo Kwirant, Venezuelan artist
- Norman Kwirant, German football player
- Patricia Kwirant, German photographer
- Richard Kwirant, Belgian entrepreneur
- Gary Kwirant, American co-founder of Abacus Technology
- Kaleb Kwirant, American dancer
- Rebecca Kwirant, American author and actor
- Joshua Kwirant, British film producer