Surname Meitz - Meaning and Origin
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Meitz: What does the surname Meitz mean?
The last name Meitz is a German surname of German and Dutch origin. It is derived from the medieval Germanic name Meicse, which in turn comes from the Latin name Metius, a short form of Magnus, meaning “great”. It is a patronymic name, meaning the bearer is the son of Metius or Magnus.
The earliest recorded usage of the name dates back to 1206, when a German man named Ucke Meicse is first mentioned in the records of Lüneburg, Germany. Later records indicate that the Meitz name took on various spellings over the centuries, ranging from Meitsche and Metsche to Mechsche and Meckse.
Meitz is primarily concentrated in Germany and the Netherlands, though there are some concentrations of the name in North America and other parts of the world. In Germany, Meitz is most commonly found in the northwestern region of North Rhine-Westphalia, which includes cities such as Cologne and Dusseldorf. In the Netherlands, it is most commonly found in the provinces of Utrecht and Gelderland, which includes the cities of Utrecht and Arnhem.
The Meitz name continues to be used in Germany and the Netherlands today, but it is also found in countries that have recently seen an influx of German and Dutch immigrants, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, among others. It is a testament to the strength and vitality of the name that it has not only been able to survive centuries of migration, but to also spread across the world over the past few decades.
Order DNA origin analysisMeitz: Where does the name Meitz come from?
The last name Meitz is most common in parts of Europe, particularly Germany and Austria. According to surname distribution maps, this name is quite rare outside of these two countries. In Germany, the name is particularly common around the Bavarian region of Middle Franconia, where cities such as Nuremberg, Fürth, and Erlangen are located. Outside of Europe, especially in the United States, the name is much rarer due to limited emigration from these regions.
The origin of the name is believed to stem from Middle High German, and its literal translation is “aggressive” or “brave”. A popular variant of the name is Metsch, which is particularly common in Austria as the spelling has changed slightly over time. It is also quite possible that the name is of Jewish origin, due to certain historical events involving mass emigration from the region prior to and during World War II.
While the name may have taken on different variants over time, the name Meitz is sure to remain a Germanic mainstay for centuries to come. Today, it continues to dot the German and Austrian landscape.
Variations of the surname Meitz
The surname Meitz has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These variants include Meite, Meitc, Meete, Meets, Meitzsch, Meitzky, Meitzel, and Mite.
Meite is a variation of the surname Meitz that may be of English or German origin. It is derived from the element “meit” which is believed to mean ‘share’ or ‘portion’ in Old English.
Meitc is another variation of Meitz that may be of German origin. It is derived from the element “meit” which, as with the other variants, is believed to mean ‘share’ or ‘portion’ in Old English.
Meete is a spelling variant of Meitz that may be of English or German origin. This variation is derived from the Old English word “meete” which means ‘to meet’.
Meets is a variant of Meitz that may be of German origin. It is derived from the element “meit” which, as with the other variants, is believed to mean ‘share’ or ‘portion’ in Old English.
Meitzsch is a variant of Meitz derived from the Germanic root “meit” which means ‘share’ or ‘portion’. It is believed that this variation came from a small village in Germany about 400 years ago.
Meitzky is a variation of Meitz that may be of German origin. It is derived from the element “meit” which, as with the other variants, is believed to mean ‘share’ or ‘portion’ in Old English.
Meitzel is a variant of Meitz that may be of German origin. It is derived from the element “meit” which, as with the other variants, is believed to mean ‘share’ or ‘portion’ in Old English.
Mite is the last variation of Meitz that may be of German origin. As with the other variants, this variation is derived from the element “meit” and is believed to mean ‘share’ or ‘portion’ in Old English.
Famous people with the name Meitz
- Leeza Meitz: American Olympic ice dancer.
- James Meitz: German luger who competed in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
- Nadia Meitz: Canadian photographer.
- Fritz Meitz: German politician of the Christian Social Union of Bavaria.
- Rickey Meitz: Former president of the National Association of Broadcasters.
- Jacob Meitz: Canadian architect who was active in the 19th century.
- Edelbert Meitz: German bishop and scientist.
- Grant Meitz: American race car driver who competed in the CART IndyCar Series and the NASCAR Busch Series.
- Kathleen Meitz: American actress known for roles in "Glee" and "Gilmore Girls".
- John Meitz: American television producer and former sportscaster.