Surname Kretz - Meaning and Origin
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Kretz: What does the surname Kretz mean?
The last name Kretz is of German origin and is a topographical name for someone who lived near a small hill or rocky outcrop. The surname can be found in various spellings such as Kretch, Kretzsch, and Kreutz, with variations in other countries. In Germany and Austria, Krettz is a common spelling.
The name Kretz is derived from the German verb "kretzen," which itself is derived from the Middle High German "krizzen" which means to dig, carve, or scratch. This implies that the original bearer of the name may have been involved in mining of rocks or quarrying for stone, or that they resided on a rocky hill or outcrop.
The name is also associated with Johann Kretzschmer, who founded a family of copper and lead literary works in the 16th century. Johann Kretzschmar was an important and talented figure, so it is quite possible that the surname Kretz is derived from this family's legacy.
Today, the surname is widespread throughout Europe, from the Czech Republic to Sweden. It is also common in the United States, and there, the name is predominantly spelled Kretz, Kretch, or Kretzsch. There are also various branches, with separate spellings in different countries.
Order DNA origin analysisKretz: Where does the name Kretz come from?
The last name Kretz is primarily found in Germany and parts of the United States today. In Germany, it is a status surname, originating from the nobility of the region. It is most commonly found in Rheinland-Pfalz, Bayern, and Berlin.
In the United States, Kretz is more widespread, but still has a higher concentration in certain regions. Many Kretz families settled in Pennsylvania in the mid-18th century, primarily in the eastern parts and along the Appalachian mountains. These families are predominantly German, although several Bavarian families also immigrated to the area. The Kretz family can also be found in New York, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, Idaho, and California.
Kretz is also seen amongst the small communities of German-American Mennonites in the Midwest, an area where an influx of settlers in the mid-1800s spread the name Kretz across the states of Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Today, the last name Kretz is most commonly found in these areas, amongst those of German-American heritage. It can also be seen amongst the descendents of the eighteenth century German settlers.
Variations of the surname Kretz
The surname Kretz is a variation of the German name Kretsch, which has the same origin and spelling in some Nordic countries. The other variants of the same name include Kreutz, Kretch, Kritz, Kretschmer, Kretzmer, Kreitzmann, Kreutzman, Kreutz, Kritzmann, Kritzmar, Kritch and Kritzmacher. It is derived from the pre-medieval German word ‘Kretsch’, meaning ‘Brook’.
The surname Kretsch is one of the oldest German families found in the Middle Ages. It was mostly recorded in Preussen and Bohemia. During the 16th century, the surname Kretsch spread to other German-speaking areas such as Austria, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.
In the United States, the surname Kretsch is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. It is also found in Canada, particularly in Ontario and Quebec.
In Germany, the surname Kretsch was generally confined to the Lower Jutland peninsula, centered around Hamburg, where it was one of the most common surnames. This could be because it was the ancestral home of the family.
The spelling in the United States varies, although the original version of the family name is Kretz. The majority of the alternatives are derived from the German word Kretsch and have been adapted to their local language and customs over the centuries. In all, there are approximately fifty known variations of the family name Kretsch, all of which stem from the same family tree.
Famous people with the name Kretz
- Bill Kretz Jr., professional American football player.
- Dave Kretz, lead guitarist in the American rock band Nine Inch Nails.
- Christian Kretschmar, German businessman and former managing director of Porsche.
- Joseph Kretz, conductor and a professor of the University of Music and Arts in Munich.
- Caprice Kretz, former professional French football goalkeeper.
- Morton Kretz, American television director, producer, and film editor.
- Julius Kretz, German chemist and mineralogist who helped pioneer the science of crystallography.
- Rainer Kretz, German classical guitarist and composer.
- Chris Kretz, American bassist of the post-hardcore bands Far and The Vanishing.
- Jochen Kretz, German horse rider, show jumper and Olympic Champion.