Some scholars claim that the name, Kurd, originated from ancient Kurdish tribal names and were applied by foreigners to all the people in the region. The ancient Babylonians referred to the tribes in the region as "Quradu" or "Qarda" meaning "warrior". Throughout history, tribes throughout the Kurdistan region were marked for their warlike traditions and culture. Some scholars say the name, Kurd, is a variation of Quradu and several other names applied by foreigners.

The name of the Kurds appears in different forms in ancient historical records. Among them are:

• The Sumerian mentioned the land of Karda or Qarda and the people of Guti and their country Gutium.
• The Babylonian referred to Kurds as Garda and Qarda.
• The Assyrians referred to Kurds as Qurti and Guti.
• The Greeks referred to Kurds as Karduch or Gorduch.
• The Armenian referred to Kurds as Gortukh or Gortai-kh.
• The Persian referred to Kurds as Gurd or Kord.
• The Syriac referred to Kurds as Qardu and Kurdaye.
• The Hebrew and Chaldean referred to Kurds as Qurdaye.
• The Aramaic and Nestorian referred to Kurds as Qadu.
• The Arab writers of early Islamic rule used Kurd, plural Akrad.
• The European from seven century A.D. referred to Kurds as Kurds.
  

List provided by Asad Khaliany, Dsc.