Last name origins & meanings:
- Probably a variant spelling of English Currant, from Old
French courant, present participle of courir ‘to run’,
which Dauzat and Morlet suggest is an ellipse for chien
courant, and hence a nickname for a hunter.
- In some
cases, the name may be an Americanized form of the French cognate
Courant, for which Morlet also offers an additional source: a
habitational name from any of various minor places named (Le) Courant,
from courant ‘running’, in the sense of ‘running water’, ‘water
course’, a derivative of kaour from Old Breton cobrand,
from cobr ‘help’, ‘aid’.
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