Surname Karstein - Meaning and Origin
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Karstein: What does the surname Karstein mean?
The last name Karstein is of German origin and is derived from the Old High German phrase "Kar-stein" meaning a rock or stone to which a person's name was appended. The name is believed to have originated as a surname with the addition of a person's name, which was often used when identifying someone's property or place of origin.
The earliest recorded instance of the name Karstein dates back to the 12th century, when a man named Dietrich Karstein was mentioned in documents from the area of Reutlingen in modern-day southern Germany. It is thought that Karstein is a variant of the Old High German Kar or Ker, meaning stone.
The surname Karstein is believed to have been used by individuals living in various regions of Germany, such as Bavaria, Württemberg, and Baden. It can also be found in parts of France, Austria, Poland, and even in the New World, as immigrants from these regions took the name with them to different parts of America in the 19th century.
In its original form, Karstein was written as a patronymic, with the suffix -stein, which means stone. The suffix is believed to have been a reference to a family’s place of origin or some other attribute that was associated with the land. For example, those from a mountain region might adopt the surname “Mountainstein” or a family living near a river might take the name “Riverstein.”
Today, the surname Karstein is still quite common in Germany and can also be found among many Germanic families abroad. It is often seen in groups of immigrants, as the name has been passed down through generations.
Order DNA origin analysisKarstein: Where does the name Karstein come from?
The last name Karstein is most common in Northern and Eastern Europe, particularly in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. The surname is thought to have been originally derived from Old German and Old Norse words, meaning "stone-dweller" or "settler near the stone."
In recent decades, the surname has spread further and is now commonly found in the United States, Canada, and various other countries in Europe, as well as further afield. The name is most common in larger cities, including major metropolitan areas like Chicago, Dallas, Toronto, London, Sydney, and Berlin.
The majority of those who bear the surname Karstein today still tend to be of northern or eastern European heritage. Despite this, the surname has become much more widely spread and diverse in the modern era. The recipient base now spans many different countries and cultures, with the shared root ancestry of the original settlers all but forgotten.
As such, the surname Karstein remains as a lasting legacy of those original settlers who lived near the stones so many centuries ago.
Variations of the surname Karstein
Karstein is a surname of Germanic origin, with several variants and spellings.
The most common variants of Karstein are Carstens, Kusten, Kustin, Kaarsten, Köhst, Körst, Kargst, and Karghst. The most common variant in Europe is Carstens, which is the most widespread spelling of the name.
The surname originated with a family of German immigrants to the United States. In Germany itself, the name is associated with the region of Schleswig-Holstein. The name is derived from the Old German kast, meaning ‘castle’ or ‘watchtower’. It is likely that the families descended from those who guarded or lived in a castle or watchtower that was called Karstein.
In the United States, Carstens is the most widely-used spelling of Karstein, while Kusten is the most closely related spelling. The name is found in numerous forms in other countries, such as Karstin in Sweden, Kersten in Denmark, and Karsten in France. Other spellings include Kaarsten, Köhst, Körst, Kargst, and Karghst.
Many variations of the original Karstein surname continue to exist in the United States and other countries, though many people have adopted spellings which are more closely aligned with their country of residence. For example, an American family today might use the spelling of Carstens rather than the German-specific spelling of Karstein.
Famous people with the name Karstein
- Mette-Marit Tjessem Hoiby Karstein, Princess of Norway
- Viivi Karstein-Nieminen, Finnish Nordic combined skier
- Magnus Kraft Karstein, Norwegian chess grandmaster and author
- Ole Andreas Karstein, Norwegian journalist and newspaper editor
- Kristin Jørgensen Karstein, Norwegian diver
- Ola Karstein Selset, Norwegian footballer
- Arnhild Karstein Hermansen, Norwegian politician
- Fritz Karstein Bell, Norwegian sport shooter
- Liv Volle Karstein-Park, Norwegian author
- Rune Karstein Lillebø, Norwegian footballer