Origin of the Kurds

Part of a series on: Kurdish history and Kurdish culture
People List of Kurds
Population Homeland Kurdistan Turkey (Northern Kurdistan) Iran (Eastern Kurdistan) Iraq (Southern Kurdistan) Syria (Western Kurdistan) Diaspora Armenia Australia Azerbaijan Belgium Canada Czech Republic Denmark Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Iraq Iran Ireland Israel Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Lebanon Netherlands New Zealand Norway Palestine Pakistan Romania Russia Syria Sweden Turkmenistan Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom United States
History Timeline of Kurdish uprisings Ancient Karduchian dynasties Corduene Zabdicene Cyrtians Moxoene Kayusids Medieval Shahrizor Mir Jafar Dasni Aishanids Daisam Shaddadids Rawadids Hasanwayhids Annazids Marwanids Hadhabani Hazaraspids Ayyubids Zands Badlis Ardalan Badinan Soran Mokryan Baban Modern Kurdistansky Uyezd Kurdish rebellions during World War I Simko Shikak revolt Koçgiri Rebellion Ararat rebellion Dersim Rebellion Kingdom of Kurdistan Kurdish Republic of Ararat Republic of Mahabad Al-Anfal campaign Iraqi Kurdistan (Kurdistan Region) Iranian Kurdistan Turkish Kurdistan Syrian Kurdistan
Culture Kurdish culture Clothing Cuisine Celebrations Dance Flag Historical sites Language Folklore Literature Music Kurdish philosophers
Languages Kurdish languages Kurmanji Sorani Xwarin Zaza Laki Gorani
Religion Islam Spread Christianity Judaism Shabakism Yarsanism Yazdânism Yazidism Zoroastrianism
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Scholars have suggested different theories for the origin of the name Kurd. Recent scholarship suggests it comes from the Middle Persian word for "nomad" (𐭪𐭥𐭫𐭲 kwrt), or may ultimately be derived from a toponym or tribal name, such as the Cyrtii or from Corduene.