Contents [hide]

Kirschner History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Kirschner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The surname Kirschner emerged in the German state of Silesia. Before the late Middle Ages, people were known only by a single name. However, as the population increased and travelers set out on their journeys, it became necessary for people to adopt a second name to identify themselves. Many people, such as the Kirschner family, adopted the name of their feudal occupation as their surname. However, an occupational name did not become a hereditary surname until the office or type of employment became hereditary. There are two occupations which gave rise to this name. The first is that of a church sexton, which is the meaning of the German word "kirchenære." The other occupation is that of a furrier and, in this case, the name is derived from the word "kuerschner."

Early Origins of the Kirschner family

The surname Kirschner was first found in Silesia, where the family was anciently associated with the political and religious conflicts of the area. They declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of early history, lending their influence in struggles for power and status within the region. The family founded numerous branches, many of which acquired manors and estates in surrounding regions, where they contributed to the prosperity of their society. The name probably derives from "Kuersch," meaning pelt, and "Kuerschner" which refers to a furrier. It is not to be confused with "Kirsch," which means cherry. Individual bearers of the name first mentioned in ancient chronicles include Ortlip Hermelin der Kuersener, who lived in Breslau, Silesia around 1360.

Early History of the Kirschner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kirschner research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1505, 1574, 1800 and 1854 are included under the topic Early Kirschner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kirschner Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Kirschner, Kirschener, Kirscher, Kirschen, Kirsher, Kirshner, Kirshener, Kerschner, Kerscher, Kersher, Cirschner, Cirschener, Cirscher, Cirsher, Cirshner, Cirshener, Kuersch, Kuersener, Kursch, Kuerschner, Kurschner, Kuerssner and many more.

Early Notables of the Kirschner family

Notables of the period with the surname Kirschner were

Aloisia Kirschner (b.1854), born in Prague, Bohemia, went on to become a prominent novelist in Moravia

Kirschner Ranking

In the United States, the name Kirschner is the 5,740^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1

Kirschner migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kirschner Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johan Georg Kirschner, who settled in Philadelphia in 1731
Joh Georg Kirschner, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1731 2
Johannes Kirschner, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1731 2
Martin Kirschner, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1742 2

Kirschner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Karl J Kirschner, who arrived in New York, NY in 1847 2
Johan Kirschner, aged 19, who landed in New York, NY in 1850 2
Adolph Kirschner, who landed in Texas in 1850-1906 2
Henriette Kirschner, who settled in Texas in 1854
Elis Philippine Kirschner, who arrived in America in 1863 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kirschner migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Kirschner Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Lawrence Kirschner, South African settler travelling from Cape Town aboard the ship "Eveline" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 22nd January 1865 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Kirschner (post 1700) +

Soozie Kirschner (b. 1957), birth name of Soozie Tyrell, an American violinist and vocalist, most known for her work with Bruce Springsteen in the E Street Band
Alec Kirschner (b. 1986), American professional ice hockey player
Ann Kirschner, American academic, entrepreneur, founder of NFL.com
Diana Adile Kirschner, American psychologist and author, best known as the coauthor of Comprehensive Family Therapy
David Kirschner (b. 1955), American two-time Primetime Emmy Award winning film and television producer, best known for his 1986 animated feature An American Tail
Professor Marc W. Kirschner (b. 1945), American cell biologist, founding chair of the Department of Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School
Peter J. Kirschner, American politician, Mayor of St. Joseph, Missouri, 1898 4
Charles E. Kirschner, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Toledo, Ohio, 1933-38 (acting, 1933-34) 4
Joachim Kirschner, German fighter pilot and flying ace in the Luftwaffe, during World War II, credited with 188 aerial victories, awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Ludwig Kirschner (1904-1945), Bavarian Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II, recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Kirschner family +

Bismarck

Herbert Kirschner (1919-1941), German Maschinenobergefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 5

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details