Surname Mentz - Meaning and Origin
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Mentz: What does the surname Mentz mean?
The surname Mentz, also spelled Mentz or Ments, is a Germanic-language name originating in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. It is derived from the personal name "Manz," which is a short form of “Amandus” or “Amantius,” meaning “beloved” or “loved one,” and thus giving the surname Mentz the meaning of “beloved.” Mentz is said to be the name of a Wild Talisman among the Unserafimi, which is a collective of supernaturally-gifted people in Bavarian folklore. The use of the name was particularly common in Bavaria, though it was also used in other areas of Germany.
The earliest recorded spelling of the surname dates back to the mid-17th century in Switzerland, when Johannes Mentz was recorded in the Zurich Tax Rolls in 1645. This suggests that the family may have been in the region for some time prior to this, perhaps having migrated there from Austria or Bavaria sometime earlier.
Today, the surname Mentz is still relatively common around the Germanic-speaking countries of Central Europe, and can also be found in other countries around the world as a result of German immigration. It is seen as an indicator of stability and heritage, representing centuries of shared language and culture.
Order DNA origin analysisMentz: Where does the name Mentz come from?
The last name Mentz has a well-recorded history in Europe, and it is most commonly found in Germany and Austria today. The family name originates from the German-speaking region of Mechelen in Liege, Belgium. It is believed to have been used by people living in this region from as early as the 12th century.
The name Mentz spread to other parts of Europe and can now be found in various other countries. The most notable area of concentration is in Germany, where it is estimated that there are over 340,000 people who have the surname. Mentz is also a fairly popular name in Austria, as well as in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and even New Zealand.
The name Mentz stems from the middle-high German word ‘mentz’, which was used to denote the craftspeople of Mechelen in Liege. The name Mentz was most likely taken on by families who descended from .these craftspeople or from families who moved to this area and adopted the local name. The people living in this region also had the word ‘mentz’ included in many of the titles used to refer to various professions.
Today, the name Mentz can be found in many countries throughout Europe and other parts of the world. People with the surname may be descended from the original residents of Mechelen in Liege or from families who adopted the surname upon their emigration to other countries.
Variations of the surname Mentz
Mentz is a surname of German origin, derived from "Mentz", an old German given name meaning 'light-hearted'. It is also spelled "Mentzer" or "Mentser". Variants of the name include the English and American Mentzer, Mentzler, Mentcke, Mentke, and Mentkemeyer. There is also some evidence of the surname being spelled Menten, Menthen, and Menthal. Other variations used in other languages include Menz, Menze, Menzer, and Menzes.
In the Netherlands, the versions Menting and Meinting were also used. Mentinger is a variant found in Austria, while Mentingerova is common in the Czech Republic. The surname Mentz can also be spelled with a "t" instead of a "z". This variant is particularly common with eastern-European versions of the name.
The surname Mentz has spread to other parts of Europe, especially Spain and Portugal, where the variant Mendes was adopted. The prefixes "von" and "de" have also been added to the surname in certain parts of Europe, most likely as a way to distinguish between different branches of the same family. In particular, the variant Mendenz von Mentz is found in Germany.
Mentz is a relatively common surname in the United States and Canada. It is a distinctive surname, but could have been amended upon immigration to North America. In some cases, the spelling was changed in an attempt to ‘Americanize’ the surname; for example, Mentz became Ments, while Mentzer became Mentzler.
Famous people with the name Mentz
- Johan Mentz: South African Afrikaans music producer and composer.
- Chris Mentz: American banker and CEO of Grand Network Financial.
- Clara Mentz: Argentinian actress and singer.
- Rupert Mentz: German musician, songwriter, and producer.
- Mike Mentzer: American bodybuilder and writer.
- Carlo Mentz: Swiss footballer.
- Eloise Mentz: American politician from Massachusetts.
- Bob Mentz: American baseball coach.
- Henrique Mentz: Brazilian politician.
- P. K. Mentz: Dutch-American computer scientist.
- Ane Mentz: Norwegian Long-distance runner.
- Alison Mentz: Canadian water polo player.
- Robert Mentz: American legal scholar.
- Kyle Mentz: American filmmaker.
- Emily Mentz: Australian actress.
- Arthur Mentz: South African businessman.
- Colin Mentz: German television series director and cinematographer.
- Carlos Mentz: Brazilian jockey.
- Frank Mentz: American college basketball head coach.
- Christa Mentz: Canadian kitchen designer.