Surname Baltz - Meaning and Origin
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Baltz: What does the surname Baltz mean?
The last name Baltz is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German “balz”, which means “spear”. It is likely the family was named for a person who wielded a spear in battle.
Baltz is especially common in Germany, where it originated, but can also be found in the U.S. The first record of this surname in the US is from the 18th century, when Johann Philip Baltz, a German Palatine settler, arrived in Philadelphia in 1734.
The surname is derived from a given name, which is derived from the ancient word “Bald = bold, bold warrior”. As such, the name originated as a surname which was adopted as a family name by families that showed bravery and courage.
The surname has been in existence ever since, with various members of the Baltz family contributing to the world in various ways, from military service, to politics, to medicine. Today there are many variants of the spelling of this surname, such as Balsa, Balse, Balz, Baltz, Bauz, etc.
It is likely that those who carry the last name of Baltz come from a line of courageous, brave, and daring individuals, and today, many descendants of this family are living all across the world in a variety of different countries.
Order DNA origin analysisBaltz: Where does the name Baltz come from?
Today, the last name Baltz is most commonly found in the United States, though it may also be found in other countries. In the United States, the Baltz surname is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, particularly in the counties of Philadelphia, Lehigh, and Chester. This reflects the earliest known presence of the name in this country, as the first Baltz family members to settle in the US were from Germany.
Baltimore is also a place where the surname may be frequently encountered, as Baltz is the city’s second-most-common surname, according to statistical reports. It is also particularly widespread in Maryland and Virginia. However, those with the last name Baltz can be found in most states, having spread across the continent over the centuries.
The last name Baltz may also be encountered outside the United States, especially Germany, where it is a relatively common Germanic name. Immigrants who left Europe for the US in the 19th and 20th centuries naturally brought the name with them. As a result, the Baltz surname continues to be seen in Canada, Mexico, South America, and Australia.
Though most commonly associated with the Germanic ethnic group, it must be noted that the Baltz surname could also have originated from other countries, particularly any location where the root term “Balt” (Baltic) is found. This provides even more potential locations around the globe where this name might appear today.
Variations of the surname Baltz
The surname Baltz is of German origin, derived from the Middle Low German word 'balz', which refers to an outer garment worn by a knight. The name has several variants and spellings, including Balltz, Balltzer, Balz, Balzere, and Baldtzer. Though variants and spellings of Baltz may somewhat vary due to dialects, they all refer to the same origin. In some cases, the original spelling may have been adopted by immigrants upon entering other countries.
Another possible variant is the Yiddish surname Batz, which is derived from the pronunciation of the surname Baltz within the Yiddish language. In addition, German variants with surrounding regions may also exist, such as Balzem, Baltzem, Paltz, or Patronymic variants such as Baltzerwitz or Baltzerssohn.
In the United States, the surname may also be found with English variants of the German spelling, such as Baltys or Boltz. All of these variations, although unique, are derived from the word 'balz' or 'baltz', meaning a garment, and therefore refer to the same origin.
Famous people with the name Baltz
- Lee Baltz: an American painter, sculptor, and professor of art.
- Sarah Baltz: a Director of Digital Life at HP.
- Eric Baltz: an American writer and actor.
- Richard William Baltz: an American journalist.
- Lauren Baltz: an American professional soccer goalkeeper
- Mark Baltz: an American professional baseball umpire.
- Marilyn Baltz: an American developer and executive of software companies.
- Steve Baltz: an American former ice hockey goaltender.
- Sherry Baltz: an American pastor and author.
- Cameron Baltz: a former American professional basketball player.
- Kim Baltz: a former American professional soccer player.
- Karl Baltz: an American television producer and director.
- Franziska Baltz: an Austrian Paralympic swimmer.
- Michael J. Baltz: an American politician.
- Robert Baltz: an American television series producer and director.
- Virginia Baltz: an American former figure skater.
- Herr Baltz: a professional racecar driver.
- Alfred A. Baltz: an American publishing executive and magazine editor.
- Daniel Baltz: an American classical music composer.