Surname Maertz - Meaning and Origin

Maertz: What does the surname Maertz mean?

The last name Maertz is a German name that is either derived from the Germanic personal name Mertiz or from a Germanic word for 'famous'. It is commonly found in regions such as the Rhineland-Palatinate area of Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States.

Mertz is an old German name derived from the Old German word ‘merto’ or ‘maerz’ which meant famous or renowned. Over time, this word, combined with the suffix ‘itz’ changed into ‘Maertz’. In Lower German, mertiz was used simply to describe someone intelligent or respected due to their knowledge.

Maertz appeared in written documents as early as 1589 when the area of Cologne was recording births and baptisms. The surname was most commonly found in the Palatinate region, and then in the 16th and 17th centuries during a period of German immigration to the U.S.

In the modern era, Maertz continues to be fairly common in the areas where it first originated. The current location of the highest concentration of Maertzes is in the Rhineland-Palatinate area of Germany, followed by several other parts of Germany. Maertz families can also be found in the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, and other countries with a German immigrant population.

Regardless of geographic location, the Maertz name is still connected to the idea of being smart, intelligent, and respected due to their knowledge.

Maertz: Where does the name Maertz come from?

The last name Maertz has been consistently found in records along the Rhine River in Germany since at least the late 1600s. This region is known as the Rheinland, which is located in Germany as well as parts of Belgium and France. It is believed the name as derived from the German word for march, or march-ward.

Today, the Maertz surname is most common in Germany, the United States, and Canada. Within the United States, the majority of Maertz families are found in the Midwest and the Northwest. There is also significant presence of Maertz families in California and Texas.

Within Canada, the majority of Maertz families are found in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

The Maertz surname can also be found in relatively high numbers in other countries, including France, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.

The Maertz name often appears in the records of Germany’s Protestant populations. In the 17th century the name was adopted by many Huguenot refugees as they fled persecution. This group of displaced French Protestants migrated in large numbers to countries such as Germany, the United States, Switzerland, and Canada.

Overall, the Maertz surname is most common in Germany, the United States, and Canada. However, it is also found in a number of other countries throughout Europe.

Variations of the surname Maertz

The surname Maertz has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants are Mertz, Martz, Marts, Martz, Masse, Mass, Maas, and Maes.

Mertz (also spelled Merts or Merz) can be found throughout Europe, with highest concentrations in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. This variant can also be found in the United States, with many Mertz families located in Pennsylvania. The Martz variant is most likely of French origin, and is primarily found in the United States. Marts is a Dutch variant of the name, and is most common in the Netherlands. Martz is a German variant of the name, and is primarily found in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.

Masse (also spelled Mass, Maas, or Maes) is a French variant of the name, and is most common in France and Canada. Maas is also the Dutch variant of the name, and is most common in the Netherlands. Lastly, Maes is a Dutch and Belgian variant of the name, and is mainly found in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.

No matter the variant or spelling, the surname Maertz is most likely derived from the German word marz, which means march, or from the PA Dutch word marz, which means border or edge.

Famous people with the name Maertz

• Heather Maertz: American professional swimmer and U.S. Champion
• Colby Maertz: American YouTuber
• Randall Maertz: American actor and producer
• Ed Maertz: American baseball player
• Craig Maertz: American football player
• Joe Maertz: American lawyer and National Baseball Player
• David Maertz: American actor
• Joe Maertz Jr.: American professional racing driver
• Andrew Maertz: American actor
• Bob Maertz: American motorcycle racer
• Brian Maertz: Swedish professional football player
• Nancy Maertz: American figure skater
• Mat Maertz: American singer
• Brian Maertz: American baseball player
• Kayla Maertz: American volleyball player

Other surnames

MaertelMaertenMaertensMaerthenMaertinMaertins