Surname Jantz - Meaning and Origin
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Jantz: What does the surname Jantz mean?
The last name Jantz is of Germanic origin. It is a patronymic surname derived from a given name such as Jan or Johann. It is made up of two elements: the first being “jan”, meaning god is gracious or god’s gift and the second being “taz”, meaning son. This type of surname was common among families of lower-class origins and it is believed that the Jantz last name originated in the regions of modern Poland and the former Czechoslovakia.
The Jantz family may have emigrated from central Europe to other parts of the world in the 18th century, and their surname can now be found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Germany, and other parts of the world.
The name Jantz is typically pronounced with a hard “j” (like the J in jump), rather than with a soft “y” (like the Y in yes).
The Jantz family name is associated with a number of noteworthy individuals, including politician and former MLB pitcher Steve Jantz, singer/actor Jann Arden, musician Justin Jantz, and Culinary Affairs' executive chef Jeff Jantz.
As the Jantz family name has spread around the world, so too have its variants. Variations on the name include Jantze, Jansz, and Jans. These variations may vary in spelling or pronunciation, but all mean the same thing—son of Jan or Johann.
Order DNA origin analysisJantz: Where does the name Jantz come from?
The last name Jantz is a German surname most commonly found in areas with famous ancestors of German immigrants, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Specifically, Jantz is most common in the US states of Wyoming, South Dakota and North Dakota.
The Jantz family name most likely originated in Germany during the Middle Ages. It was a very common name during the 1800s, when it was particularly popular in Prussia and Lower Saxony. During this time, the Jantz surname was associated with aristocratic or farming families.
Today, the Jantz last name is mostly found amongst the descendants of those early German immigrants who settled in the United States during the 19th century. It is one of many Germanic surnames that were brought to the US by people of German heritage. This can be seen in the US census records, which show a consistent presence of people with the Jantz surname over the past two centuries.
Those who can trace their ancestry to early Jantz family members are mostly concentrated in the Great Plains and Midwest regions of the US.
Given how common the name still is today, it is likely that the family will continue to have a strong presence in these areas for years to come.
Variations of the surname Jantz
The surname Jantz is believed to be of German origin. It is a patronymic name derived from “Jant,” a German personal name. Variations of this name include Jans, Jante, Jantz, Jantzen, Jantsch, Jantzsch, and Jäntz.
In Germany, the spelling of the surname changed with each generation. In particular, the "-e" was added or dropped to the name and is still done so today. For example, one branch of a family may spell the name Jantze, while another may spell it Jantz. Furthermore, the spelling of Jantz with two “z” is more common when the name is found in America.
The surname Jantz is also found in parts of Europe and the rest of the world. In Dutch, the Jants is spelled with a “s" at the end, while in Slavic lands the name is sometimes translated to Yantsevich or Yanz.
In terms of surnames of the same origin, Jantz is related to other surnames such as Janik, Janson, Jansma, and Janssen, among others. These surnames are derived from the given name Jan, which is derived from the Hebrew name "Yohanan," which means “God is gracious."
Throughout its many spellings and related surnames, the surname Jantz has a long and varied history, showing its German roots and related surnames within Europe, North America, and the world.
Famous people with the name Jantz
- Björn Jantz: a German professional football player who has played professionally since 2013;
- Rachel Jantz: an American-Canadian television and film actress, best known for her roles in The Bold Type and Creed II;
- Manuel Jantz: a Swiss professional ski jumper who has won the Swiss Men’s Ski Jumping Championship twice;
- Jesica Jantz: an American neoconservative political analyst and strategist who works as the Director of Political Outreach for the NRA Institute for Legislative Action;
- Daphne Jantz: a Canadian contemporary artist, filmmaker, and musician, best known for her work in installation art;
- Alexander Jantz: an Austrian former professional tennis player, who has been playing since 1987;
- Mordechai Jantz: an Israeli sculptor and installation artist, best known for his work at the Museum of Biblical Art in New York City;
- Franz Jantz: a German modernist photographer and fashion designer;
- Max Jantz: an Australian Paralympic athlete who competed in nine Paralympic Games;
- Sybil Jantz: an American-Canadian producer, director, and screenwriter, best known for her producing work on television series like The O.C., 90210, and Dirt.