Kursenieki - Confusion

Confusion

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.