Surname Hentzsch - Meaning and Origin

Hentzsch: What does the surname Hentzsch mean?

The last name Hentzsch is of German origin and is derived from the ancient personal name Henschel or Henczel, meaning “rooster”. The original spelling of the name was Hentschke, and it’s found mainly in the Thuringia & Silesia regions of Germany.

The surname Hentzsch is found often in records that date back to the 16th century. The first recorded ancestor of this name is Johan Henczel, who was born in Lichtenberg in 1501. Further records from the family can be found in the Lutheran church books in which his great-grandson, Johannes Hentzsch, was baptized in 1585 in Rudolphsdorf.

The meaning of the last name ‘Hentzsch’ captures the rooster's strength, valiance, and vitality. For this reason, the name may carry with it the common set of meanings associated with the meaning of the name such as courage, strength, and strength of character. In some cases, Hentzsch may also be derived from the German word henzen, meaning ‘hectic’ or ‘hustler’.

Hentzsch is not a particularly common surname in Germany, with the latest statistics showing only around 2,000 people with the name in the country. However, it is found in several places in Germany and in other countries around the world, having been bearers in major migrations from Europe to the US and beyond. It can also be found beyond Germany’s borders in GermanyEastern Europe.

Hentzsch: Where does the name Hentzsch come from?

The last name Hentzsch is most common in Germany today. It is a surname associated with Saxony, a region located in the southeastern part of the country. In the year 2020, it was the 783rd most common surname in Germany.

The origin of the name Hentzsch is derived from the old German words for “stone” and “iron”, and is likely a reference to a person working in the trade of metals. It is believed to have first been used in the Middle Ages, and the most significant period of domestication was in the 19th century.

The most significant German counties with the surname Hentzsch are Dresden, Leipzig, and Chemnitz. Dresden has the highest concentration of people bearing the name Hentzsch, with the highest percentage of individuals having DDR backgrounds. Leipzig is the second most populous city with the name, followed by Sachsen.

Outside of Germany, people bearing the name Hentzsch are found in neighbouring countries and regions, such as Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, and Russia. Depending on the location, it may take a slightly different spelling, such as Henzschel in Czech Republic or Hentshl in Russia.

Despite not being a widely known surname in the contemporary age, the name Hentzsch can still be found in small towns across Germany. Those bearing the name often have ancestral roots in Saxony and can trace their ancestors back to the Middle Ages.

Variations of the surname Hentzsch

The surname Hentzsch is a German surname originating from Hentzschel, which has several spelling variations including Hentschel, Hentschl, Hentz, Hentzke, and Henri. It is derived from the Middle High German words henze for “magpie” and hans or hanz for “gray” or “roan.”

Other variations of the name are Hetzsch, Hentsch, Hentschl, Hentz, Hentze, and Hetz. Additionally, there are anglicized variations, such as Hensley and Henschel, which are often found in former East German territories or in the United States. In France, the name is spelled “Hentzschke” or “Hentz”.

In Poland, this surname is spelled “Hancz” and “Hanczyszk”. It can also be found as “Hantze” in other parts of the world, such as the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, and the Netherlands.

While these are the most common spellings of the surname, they are not necessarily exclusive. This is because other variants have surfaced over the years, due to translations, or due to phonetics. Sometimes, variants are created unintentionally when there is a spelling or transcription error. This is particularly true of Eastern European versions, where different languages, such as Russian, or Slavic languages, are utilized. In some cases, variants could even reflect a complete diversification of the original Danish or German spelling.

Famous people with the name Hentzsch

• Paul Hentzsch (1850–1917): German classical scholar.
• Franz Hentzsch (1839–1911): German piano maker.
• Viktor Hentzsch (1910–1978): German composer and conductor.
• Anton Hentzsch (1786–1866): German painter and art collector.
• Theodor Hentzsch (1835-1905): German painter.
• August Hentzsch (1841–1890): German musicologist and biographer.
• Konrad Hentzsch (1894–1962): German expressionist painter.
• Christoph Hentzsch (1637–1714): German architect.
• Arnold Hentzsch (1827–1901): German composer.
• Anna Hentzsch (1844–1919): German actress.

Other surnames

Hentzschel