The Kursenieki (, – 'Curonians', , ) are a nearly extinct Baltic

ethnic group An ethnicity or ethnic group is a group of people with shared attributes, which they collectively believe to have, and long-term endogamy. Ethnicities share attributes like language, culture, common sets of ancestry, traditions, society, re ...

living along the Curonian Spit. "Kuršiai" refers only to inhabitants of

Lithuania Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania, is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, P ...

and former

East Prussia East Prussia was a Provinces of Prussia, province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1772 to 1829 and again from 1878 (with the Kingdom itself being part of the German Empire from 1871); following World War I it formed part of the Weimar Republic's ...

that speak a southwestern dialect of Latvian. Some autochthonous inhabitants of Šventoji in

call themselves "kuršiai" as well.

Confusion

Kursenieki are often confused with the extinct Curonian Baltic tribe, as neighbouring ethnic groups called Kuršininkai/ Kursenieki as ''Curonians'': in German, Latvian and Lithuanian, Kursenieki and the Curonian tribes are known by the same terms (''Kuren'', ''kurši'' and ''kuršiai'' respectively). In Polish, they are referred to as either ''Kuronowie Pruscy,'' which translates to "Prussian Curonians", or ''Kurończycy,'' a name which distinguishes them from the autochthonous people of the Courland region in Latvia, known as Kurowie in Polish. In Lithuanian scholarly literature, the name ''kuršininkai'' is used to distinguish them from the Curonian tribe. Similarly in Latvian ''kursenieki'' is used mostly exclusively by scientists to distinguish them from the Curonian tribe. On the other hand, Kursenieki should not be confused with Kurzemnieki, which are the geographical group of Latvians from Courland.

Self-designation

The Kursenieki have never designated themselves as Latvians and called their own language "Curonian language" (''kursisk valoud''). From a linguistic point of view, it is a southwestern dialect of Latvian, while some linguists also consider it a sociolect as Kursenieki were predominantly fishermen. In German and Latvian writings of the 19th century, Kursenieki sometimes are called "Prussian Latvians" (; ). Kursenieki were loyal to Germany and identified themselves as German citizens and ethnic ''Kursenieki''.

Language

The language spoken by the Kursenieki is referred to as the Kursenieki language. It is distinct from the Curonian language (or Old Curonian) spoken by the Curonian people.

History

Origins

The exact origin of the Kursenieki is unclear. One version says that they are indigenous descendants of the Curonian tribe that lived there since antiquity, at least along the Curonian Spit. During the conquest of the Old Prussians and Curonians by the Teutonic Knights, the area became nearly uninhabited. In the process of various migrations of the 14th–17th centuries, Curonians from Courland settled near Memel, along the Curonian and Vistulan Spits, as well as in Sambia (all regions in

). They preserved the old self-designation of Curonians (''kurši''), while Curonians who stayed in Courland fused into

Latvians Latvians () are a Baltic ethnic group and nation native to Latvia and the immediate geographical region, the Baltics. They are occasionally also referred to as Letts, especially in older bibliography. Latvians share a common Latvian language ...

. Over time the Kursenieki were assimilated by

Germans Germans (, ) are the natives or inhabitants of Germany, or sometimes more broadly any people who are of German descent or native speakers of the German language. The Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, constitution of Germany, imple ...

, except along the Vistulan and Curonian Spits, where some still live. Until the Soviet Army's takeover in 1945, several places in Sambia were named after Kursenieki, including Cranzkuhren, Neukuhren, Gross Kuhren, and Klein Kuhren. In 1649, Kursenieki lived from Memel to Danzig. At the end of the 19th century the total number of Kursenieki was around 4,000 persons.

Interbellum

Kursenieki were considered Latvians after

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

when

Latvia Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic states, along with Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. It borders Russia to the east and Belarus to t ...

gained independence from the

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire that spanned most of northern Eurasia from its establishment in November 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in September 1917. At its height in the late 19th century, it covered about , roughl ...

. This consideration was based on linguistic arguments and was the rationale for Latvian claims over the Curonian Spit, Memel, and some other territories of East Prussia. Later these claims were removed. In 1923, the newly created Memel Territory separated the Curonian Spit in two parts. This separation interrupted contacts between Kursenieki. In 1933, Latvia tried to establish a cultural center for Kursenieki of the Curonian Spit where the majority of them lived, but that was opposed by

, of which Memel Territory was a part.

After World War II

Near the end of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, the majority of Kursenieki fled from the Red Army during the evacuation of East Prussia. Kursenieki that remained behind were subsequently expelled as Germans by the

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

after the war and replaced with

Russians Russians ( ) are an East Slavs, East Slavic ethnic group native to Eastern Europe. Their mother tongue is Russian language, Russian, the most spoken Slavic languages, Slavic language. The majority of Russians adhere to Eastern Orthodox Church ...

and

Lithuanians Lithuanians () are a Balts, Baltic ethnic group. They are native to Lithuania, where they number around 2,378,118 people. Another two million make up the Lithuanian diaspora, largely found in countries such as the Lithuanian Americans, United Sta ...

. Some Kursenieki managed to return to their homes after the war, but only 219 lived along the Curonian Spit in 1955. Many had German names such as

Fritz Fritz is a common German language, German male name. The name originated as a German diminutive of Friedrich (given name), Friedrich or Frederick (given name), Frederick (''Der Alte Fritz'', and ''Stary Fryc'' were common nicknames for King Fred ...

or Hans, a cause for anti-German discrimination. Russian residents called the Kursenieki "

fascist Fascism ( ) is a far-right, authoritarian, and ultranationalist political ideology and movement. It is characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural soci ...

s", while Lithuanians called them ''kuršiai''. Neither

nor

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

have allowed the return to Kursenieki of property confiscated after World War II.

Culture

Curonians are one of the Baltic tribes. Their culture, religion and architecture are similar to those found in

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

and

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...

. Curonians are related with

and

. The Kursenieki were predominantly

Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

, like most former inhabitants of

, although some ancient pagan customs were preserved. Most Kursenieki were

bilingual Multilingualism is the use of more than one language, either by an individual speaker or by a group of speakers. When the languages are just two, it is usually called bilingualism. It is believed that multilingual speakers outnumber monolin ...

or even trilingual: the Curonian language was used within the family and while fishing, German was used in everyday communication, and the language of church services was German and Lithuanian. The Kursenieki were primarily fishermen. Some elements of cuisine are named after Kursenieki, for example, Curonian coffee (''Kurenkaffee''); a drink made of vodka flavoured with coffee, honey and other ingredients was popular throughout East Prussia. The first scholar who took an interest in Kursenieki culture and language was Paul Kwauka, a member of the separatist movement of Memel Territory. His book "Kurisches Wörterbuch" is a highly valuable source of information. The work of describing their heritage is continued by one of the last remaining Kursenieki, Richard Pietsch.

Image gallery

File:Kurenwimpel aus Nidden (2004).JPG, Pennant of Curonian boat from Nida File:Ethnographic Cemetery And Christenings - Krikštas Nidos kapinēse (2010) - panoramio.jpg, Restored Kursenieki wooden grave markers ('' krikštai'') at Nida cemetery

Surnames

The surnames of Kursenieki have various origins, including: * Latvian, some with elements of Old Curonian: Gulbis, Kakies, Kuite, Kukulitis, Pinkis, Strangulis * Lithuanian: Kalwis, Lauzeningks, Detzkeit, Jakeit * Lithuanian or Latvian or Old Prussian: Dullis, Purwins * German: Kiehr, Schmidt * German with Baltic elements: Engelins * Slavic: Pietsch * Polish: Schadowski * Old Prussian: Schekahn

Notable people

Immanuel Kant Immanuel Kant (born Emanuel Kant; 22 April 1724 – 12 February 1804) was a German Philosophy, philosopher and one of the central Age of Enlightenment, Enlightenment thinkers. Born in Königsberg, Kant's comprehensive and systematic works ...

(1724–1804) had Kursenieki roots on his paternal side. * Ludwig Rhesa (1776–1840), translator, member of Lietuvininkai movement.

Notes

External links

Eva Pluhařova-Grigienė. The Curonian Spit: Identity and Cultural Heritage

Historical features of the northern part of the curonian spit

Map of languages in Prussia and Memelland in 1900large
*

* ttp://www.spauda.lt/voruta/tekstai/kurshes.htm Paskutinioji kuršininkų karta
Dalia Kiseliūnaitė. Kuršių Nerijos asmenvardžiai kaip gyventojų etninės sudėties liudininkai. Personennamen der Kurischen Nehrung als Zeugen der ethnischen Zusammensetzung der Bevölkerung
*
Dalia Kiseliūnaitė Paskutinioji kuršininkų karta
{{Ethnic groups in Lithuania Ethnic groups in Lithuania Balts Endangered languages of Europe de:Kuren