Kursenieki
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| (unknown) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Lithuania, Germany, Poland | |
| Languages | |
| Latvian (Curonian) | |
| Religion | |
| Protestantism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Latvians, Lietuvininks, Lithuanians |
The Kuršininkai (Curonians; German: Kuren; Lithuanian: kuršininkai; Latvian: kursenieki, kurši; Polish: kuronowie pruscy) are a nearly extinct Baltic ethnic group living along the Curonian Spit. "Kuršininkai" refers only to inhabitants of Lithuania and former East Prussia that speak a Latvian language dialect. Autochthonous inhabitants of Palanga in Lithuania call themselves "kuršininkai" as well, but in Lithuania they usually are counted as Latvians.
Kuršininkai/Kursenieki are often confused with the extinct Curonian Baltic tribe, as neighbouring ethnic groups called Kuršininkai/Kursenieki 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 distinguish them from the Curonian tribe. Similarly in Latvian kursenieki is used mostly exclusively by scientists to distinguish them from the Curonian tribe. On the other hand, Kuršininkai should not be confused with Kurzemnieki, which are the geographical group of Latvians from Courland. Kuršininkai are often considered descendants of the extinct Curonian tribe.
The Kuršininkai/Kursenieki have never designated themselves as Latvians and their own language was called "Curonian language" (kursenieku 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.
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