Kudirka

Kudirka is a surname of Baltic origin, found in Lithuania and Latvia. It is borne by several individuals in public life and genealogical records. The most prominent bearer is Vincas Kudirka, a Lithuanian physician, journalist and poet who wrote the original text of the Lithuanian national anthem, Tautiška giesmė, in 1898. His work is a foundational element of modern Lithuanian national identity, though the melody was later composed and standardized by others.

The origin of the surname Kudirka is not definitively established; it is typical of Baltic names to reflect occupational, patronymic, or geographic origins. The name remains in use among Lithuanians and Latvians, and appears in historical and contemporary records, as well as among diaspora communities.

In encyclopedic usage, Kudirka primarily names people, notably Vincas Kudirka; it does not denote a separate concept, place, or institution. The surname is relatively uncommon and is most frequently associated with Baltic lineages, with instances appearing in biographical and genealogical sources.