| Total population |
|---|
| 9 (2008) |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Lithuania, Germany |
| Languages |
| Religion |
| Related ethnic groups |
The Kuršininkai (Curonians; German: Kuren; Lithuanian: Kuršininkai; Latvian: Kursenieki) (sg. Kursenieks) are a nearly extinct Baltic ethnic group living along the Curonian Spit. "Kuršininkai" refers only to inhabitants of Lithuania and former East Prussia that speak a Lithuanian language dialect. Autochthonous inhabitants of Palanga in Lithuania call themselves "Curonians" as well,[1] but in Lithuania they usually are counted as Latvians.
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Kuršininkai/Kurzemnieki are often confused with the extinct Curonian Baltic tribe, as neighbouring ethnic groups called Kuršininkai/Kurzemnieki as Curonians: in German, Latvian and Lithuanian, Kuršininkai and the Curonian tribe are known by the same terms (Kuren, kurši and kuršiai respectively). In scientific Lithuanian literature, the name kuršininkai is used to designate them from the Curonian tribe. Simillary in Latvian kurzemnieki is used mostly exclusively by scientists to designate them from the Curonian tribe. On the other hand, Kuršininkai should not be confused with Kurzemnieki, which are the geographical group of Latvians from Kurzeme. Kuršininkai are often considered descendants of the extinct Curonian tribe.
The Kuršininkai/Kurzemnieki have never designated themselves as Latvians and their own language was called "Curonian language" (kurzemnieku valoda). From a linguistic point of view, it is a dialect of Latvian. In German and Latvian writings of the 19th century, Kuršinikai sometimes are called "Prussian Latvians" (German: Preussische Letten; Latvian: Prūsijas latvieši). Kuršininkai were loyal to Germany and identified themselves as German citizens and ethnic Kuršininkas.
The origin of the Kuršininkai is unclear. One version says that they are indigenous descendants of the Curonian tribe who lived there since antiquity, at least along the Curonian Spit.[2] 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,[3][4][5] Curonians from Courland settled near Memel, along the Curonian Spit, and in Sambia (all regions in East Prussia). They preserved the old self-designation of Curonians (kursi), while Curonians who stayed in Courland became Latvians. The Kuršininkai were assimilated by Germans, except along the Curonian Spit where some still live. Until 1945, several places in Sambia were named after Kuršininkai, including Cranzkuhren, Neukuhren, Gross Kuhren, and Klein Kuhren. In 1649 Kuršininkai lived from Memel (Klaipėda) to Danzig (Gdańsk). In the end of the 19th century the total number of Kuršininkai was around 4,000 persons.
Kuršininkai were considered Latvians after World War I when Latvia gained independence from the Russian Empire. 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 (Klaipėda Region) separated the Curonian Spit in two parts. This separation interrupted contacts between Kuršininkai. In 1933 Latvia tried to establish a cultural center for Kuršininkai of the Curonian Spit where the majority of them lived, but was opposed by Lithuania, to which the Memel Territory belonged. Latvian books that were sent to Kuršininkai were confiscated and accused of communist propaganda. Near the end of World War II, the majority of Kuršininkai fled from the Red Army during the evacuation of East Prussia. Kuršininkai that remained behind were subsequently expelled by the Soviet Union after the war and replaced with Russians and Lithuanians.
Some Kuršininkai 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 or Hans, a cause for anti-German discrimination. Russian settlers called the Kuršininkai fascists, while Lithuanian settlers called them Prussians. In the Lithuanian SSR, church services in German were banned. Because of this discrimination, many immigrated to West Germany in 1958, where the majority of Kuršininkai now live. Neither Lithuania nor Russia has allowed the return to Kuršininkai of property confiscated after World War II.
Curonians are one of the Baltic tribes. Their Culture,religion and architecture is similar to those found in Germany and Sweden. Curonians are related with Lithuanians and Latvians. The Kuršininkai were predominantly Lutheran, like most former inhabitants of East Prussia, although some ancient pagan customs were preserved. Most Kuršininkai were bilingual 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 Kuršininkai were primarily fishermen. Some elements of cuisine are named after Kuršininkai, for example Curonian coffee (Kurenkoffee); a drink made of vodka flavoured with coffee, honey and other ingredients was popular throughout East Prussia. The first who took an interest in Kuršininkai culture and language was Paul Kwauka, a member of the separatist movement of Memel Territory. His book "Kurisches Worterbuch" is a highly valuable source of information.The work of describing their heritage is continued by one of the last remaining Curonians, Richard Pietsch.[6]
The so-called New Curonian language (New Curonian: Kursenieku valoda; German: Nehrungskurisch) is spoken by the Kursenieki of the Curonian Spit, a thin strip of land stretching between southwestern Lithuania and Russia. In the process of various migrations of the 14th-17th centuries, Curonians (already speaking in Latvian) settled along the Curonian Spit in East Prussia and became known as the Kursenieki.
The language was influenced by Old Prussian, Low German, High German and the Samogitian dialect respectively, and by the end of the 18th century new Curonian dialects had formed, with the dialect of the Curonian Spit being notably distinct, due to its isolation from the mainland. New Curonian vocabulary published in 1927 shows: 60% of Curonian words were the same as Latvian, 26% were loanwords from “German” (i.e. Low German and High German), and 13% from Lithuanian dialects. The New Curonian language is mutually intelligible with Latvian, especially with its southwestern dialects, and Latvians can communicate easily with Kursenieki today.[7]
Before World War II, the New Curonian language was a sociolect of Kursenieki fishermen of the Curonian Spit. In other spheres of everyday life Kursenieki used the Low German and High German languages. The events of the first half of the 20th century, including the Soviet and German occupations of the Baltic states and later East Prussia, led to the near extinction of the language, making it severely endangered. Several remaining native speakers live in Germany, having been expelled in the ethnic cleansing that took place in East Prussia after World War II.
The surnames of Kuršininkai have various origins, including: