Explore the Family Name Kurzweil

The meaning of Kurzweil

German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): nickname for a joker, from German Kurzweil ‘pastime, amusement, entertainment’, a compound of kurz ‘short’ + Weile ‘while, short time’.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Kurzweil in the United States?

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname "Kurzweil" showed a minor decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 54,643, but by 2010 it dropped to 56,310, signifying a 3.05% decrease. However, the number of individuals with the Kurzweil last name slightly increased during this decade from 353 to 363, marking a 2.83% growth. Despite this small uptick in count, the proportion per 100,000 people decreased by 7.69%, moving from 0.13 to 0.12.

20002010Change
Rank#54,643#56,310-3.05%
Count3533632.83%
Proportion per 100k0.130.12-7.69%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Kurzweil

When examining the ethnic identity associated with the surname "Kurzweil", the Decennial U.S. Census reveals that the majority of individuals with this last name identify as White. In 2000, an overwhelming 97.73% of Kurzweils identified as White, although this percentage slightly dipped to 96.69% in 2010. The Hispanic population within this surname saw a slight increase, rising from 1.70% to 1.93%, which represents a 13.53% change over the decade. Other ethnic identities such as Asian/Pacific Islander, Two or more races, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native reported no individuals identifying under the surname "Kurzweil".

20002010Change
White97.73%96.69%-1.06%
Hispanic1.7%1.93%13.53%
Asian/Pacific Islander0%0%0%
Two or More Races0%0%0%
Black0%0%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%