Kortum

Kortum is a surname of German origin. It is found in German-speaking regions and among diaspora populations in North America, Europe, and elsewhere. The precise etymology is not consistently documented, but it is regarded as part of the broader family of Germanic surnames that may derive from personal names, occupations, or geographic associations. Across records, the spelling Kortum appears in historical and contemporary contexts.

Notable people with the surname include Samuel S. Kortum, an economist recognized for work in international trade and innovation. He is best known as a co-author of the Eaton–Kortum model, a theoretical framework that models how technology levels and productivity differences across countries shape trade patterns and the allocation of resources globally. The model has been influential in research on globalization, technology diffusion, and economic growth, and it is frequently cited in papers on trade policy and economic development.

In scholarly and public-facing references, the surname Kortum is primarily encountered in economics and related social sciences, though individuals with the name have contributed to other fields as well. The name remains relatively uncommon, with occurrences concentrated in North America and parts of Europe.