Surname Hertz - Meaning and Origin
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Hertz: What does the surname Hertz mean?
The surname Hertz is of German origin, derived from the German word "hertz" meaning "heart or mind". It is a topographical name, used for someone who lived near the head of a fast-flowing river or stream. The surname likely developed as a nickname for someone who had a good memory or was of a strong character.
The name Hertz is also found in Scandinavia, from an old English personal name "Heri". This name was also probably derived from the Old German word for heart or mind, or from the old Norse name Herjolf, meaning "warrior wolf".
Hertz is one of the most common surnames in Germany, with over five thousand people bearing the name. It is also fairly widespread in the United States, where it has been adopted by many people of German and Scandinavian descent. The surname appears in many public records, including military records, land deeds, cemetery records and immigration records.
The Hertz family is said to be prominent in the literary world, as many well-known authors and writers have borne the name, including the Nobel laureate poet Heinrich Heine and the popular children’s author and illustrator, Robert Munsch. The family is also believed to be well-connected in the music industry, with the grammy-winning producer and composer Arif Mardin being related to the Hertz family.
The name Hertz has long been a symbol of strength and determination in the Germanic world and is still carried on today through its distinguished bearers.
Order DNA origin analysisHertz: Where does the name Hertz come from?
The last name Hertz is most commonly found in the Northern European countries of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also a common last name in the Netherlands as well as in other Central and Eastern European countries such as Hungary, Poland, Romania, Croatia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The last name Hertz has come to be more well-known to many because of the famous German physicist Heinrich Hertz, who was born in 1857 and discovered electromagnetic radiation. It was from his name that the term hertz (abbreviated as Hz), which is used to measure frequency, was derived.
Hertz is also the name of the company most people recognize when they hear the word 'rental car.' Founded in 1918, Hertz rents cars, SUVs, vans and trucks for short and long-term use. It is based in America and has operations in more than 150 countries.
The last name Hertz is also well-known in various other areas like business, media, politics, government, and technology. Famous people of the last name Hertz include Nobel Prize winner Gustav Hertz, former Major League Baseball player Nate Hertz, and German software entrepreneur Björn Hertz.
It is estimated that over 200,000 individuals with the last name Hertz live today, with the majority being concentrated in Northern Europe.
Variations of the surname Hertz
The surname Hertz is originally of German or Jewish (Ashkenazic) origin. It is derived from the German word "Hertz" which means "son". It used to be a very common name in Germany and many other parts of Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The most common variants of this surname are Hartz, Hertzog, Hertzig, Hertzberg, Hertzel, and Herthal. The spelling variations of Hertz include Hertze, Herce, Hercke, Herck, Herts, Harts, Hertzog, Hertzig, Herzog, Herzel, Herzell, Hertzberg, Hertzel, Hertzele, Hurts, and Heartz.
In the United States the surname is most common in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The surnames Hartz, Herzog, and Herzel are the most common variants in this area. In Canada, the surname is most common in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia.
In addition, the surname Hertz can also be found in countries other than Germany. In France, it is spelled Hirtz, whilst in Italy it is spelled Erz. In Yiddish, the surname is rendered Hertzele.
In Jewish households, the surname Hertz is sometimes combined with the surnames Stern (star) or Eisen (iron) to form the patronymic names Hertz-Stern or Hertz-Eisen.
In addition to Hertz, some individuals also carry this surname as Herzer, Hertzler, and Herzfield.
Famous people with the name Hertz
- Daniel Hertz: a computer scientist and writer who specializes in urban planning and civic technology.
- Paul Hertz: an American astrophysicist and former NASA science chief.
- Gustav Hertz: a German physicist and Nobel laureate who discovered the phenomenon of collision-induced dissociation.
- Philipp Hertz: a German lawyer and politician from the Social Democratic Party of Germany.
- Heinrich Hertz: a German physicist known for his work in electromagnetism, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901.
- Joachim Hertz: a Danish historian and philosopher of religion.
- Michael Hertz: an American silversmith, sculptor, and jeweler.
- Rudolf Hertz: a German physicist who is credited for the discovery of the photoelectric effect.
- S. H. Hertz: an early 20th century physicist who studied astrophysics and worked on the theory of relativity.
- Adam Hertz: a British-Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.