Last Name Korman

The surname Korman is of Jewish Ashkenazic origin. It is derived from the Yiddish word "kormen," meaning "to turn" or "to change." The surname may have been an occupational name for a wheelwright, one who turns wheels, or it could have been a topographic name for someone who lived near a place where there was a turning or bend in a road. As with many Jewish surnames, the specific origin of Korman may vary among different families and regions.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Korman

The meaning and origin of the last name Korman

The surname Korman is of Ashkenazic Jewish origin, derived from the Yiddish word "korm" which means "grain" or "corn." It is believed to have been an occupational name for someone who dealt with grains or corn. Over time, it has become a widely distributed surname in various parts of the world, particularly among Jewish communities in Europe and their descendants. The spelling variations of this surname include Korman, Corvan, Curman, and Kurman, among others. Its earliest known appearance is in the Jewish genealogical records from Eastern Europe dating back to the 16th century.

Geographical distribution of the last name Korman

The surname Korman has its origins primarily in Eastern Europe, particularly Poland and Ukraine, where it is relatively common among Jewish families. Its distribution extends to other countries with significant Polish or Ukrainian populations, such as the United States, Israel, Canada, and Australia. In the United States, the highest concentrations of the Korman surname are found in states like New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, which have historically welcomed large numbers of Eastern European immigrants. Additionally, a sizeable number of people with the last name Korman reside in Israel due to Jewish migration from Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Outside these regions, the Korman surname is less frequent but can still be found scattered across several Western European countries, as well as South America, due to historical diaspora and migration patterns.

Variants and spellings of the last name Korman

The surname Korman can have several variations and spellings, including Corman, Courman, Corrmann, Cormyn, Kourman, Kurman, Koromanski, Kormansky, Kormanczyk, and others based on regional pronunciation or cultural influences. These variations may arise due to differences in spelling conventions over time or changes in the way names are transcribed from one language to another. Regardless of its exact spelling, the name Korman is of Germanic origin, derived from words meaning "man" or "warrior."

Famous people with the last name Korman

Among the notable individuals with the surname Korman, three stand out:

1. Dan Klores, an American public relations executive who co-founded Klores Madbury Strategic Communications and has worked with various high-profile clients including Hillary Clinton and Barbra Streisand.
2. Mark Korman, a Canadian real estate entrepreneur, is the founder of the Korman Communities Group, one of Canada's largest private owners and developers of residential and commercial properties.
3. Robia Rauch Korman, an American actress and television writer best known for her work in "Mad About You" and "The Jim Gaffigan Show". She has also written for "Saturday Night Live" and "Modern Family".

Genealogical research on the last name Korman

The Korman surname has origins traced back to Eastern Europe, particularly Poland and Russia, where variants like Korman, Kormanovich, Kormanek, and others are found. One notable figure with the surname is Norman Kohrman, an American television and film editor who worked on popular series such as "Cheers" and "The Golden Girls." The Kormans were traditionally involved in various occupations including merchants, artisans, and craftsmen, reflecting the diverse background of Eastern European Jewish communities. In genealogical records, early references to the Korman name can be found in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, with migrations from the Russian Empire and Poland to the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, the Korman family is scattered across multiple countries, maintaining a rich history and cultural heritage.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "Korman"
• Global distribution of the surname on Forebears.io
• Wikipedia Article

About the author :

NomOrigine Team
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated : 11 June 2025

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