Surname Metze - Meaning and Origin
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Metze: What does the surname Metze mean?
The last name Metze is of German origin and is believed to have derived from an area known as "The Metz". The Metz is an area located in western Germany, close to the countries of Luxembourg and France. It was once part of the Rhineland, a stretch of land historically belonging to the Holy Roman Empire.
The surname Metze is an occupational name, originally referring to someone who worked in The Metz. This could have included individuals involved in farming, retail, construction, or any other economic activity centred around the area. Consequently, Metze is an incredibly common surname and can be found among many different nationalities.
Although the exact year of origin is uncertain, the surname Metze is believed to have first been used in the medieval period. This would have likely been a time when many German families were migrating from their homeland to new areas in search of opportunity, which is why the surname is held by numerous different nationalities today.
Today, Metze is fairly widespread but is still mainly concentrated in western Germany. If you are of German descent and think your family could be linked to this name, research into local German historical records may prove to be beneficial.
Order DNA origin analysisMetze: Where does the name Metze come from?
The Metze surname is mostly associated with Germany, where it is quite common. It is most widespread in the German states of Bavaria and Lower Saxony. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "metz" which means "a jag of land," suggesting that the original bearers of the name were landowners.
In America, the Metze surname is less prevalent, with the majority of bearers coming from Germanic descent. It can be found in census records from the mid 1800’s, particularly with immigrants from Bavarian cities such as Regensburg, Nuremberg, and Augsburg.
In more recent times, the Metze surname can be found scattered throughout the United States, with the highest concentration found in Pennsylvania, New York, and California. Smaller numbers have been recorded in the Midwest, particularly in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Ohio, and also in the south, in states such as Arkansas and Tennessee.
Although the Metze name may be less common in the US than it is in Germany, it is still relatively widespread. It is most frequently found among individuals of Germanic origin who trace their heritage back to the 1800s, when the Metze name first arrived in America. Nevertheless, the Metze name is sure to remain a part of American culture for many more generations to come.
Variations of the surname Metze
The surname Metze has a few common variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
The most common variant spelling of Metze is Metz, which is a German-originated variant. Metz is typically found in North America, Germany, France, and the UK. Additionally, Matze is an alternative German spelling of the same surname, which is sometimes found in the USA or Germany, and Meats is an example of an Americanized version of the same German surname.
The Irish surname Mac Caffaig is a variant of Metze. The Mac in Mac Caffaig stands for “son of” and Caffaig is a term meaning “brave”. This Irish variant is most common in Ireland and Scotland.
Finally, the French spelling of Metze is Mézé, which is quite similar with the primary spelling, but with an accent mark. This French variant of the name is most common in North America and France.
In general, the Metze surname has many common variants, spellings, and related surnames from different countries, such as Germany, France, Ireland, and Scotland. These related variants and spellings typically appear in the countries of origin or in North America.
Famous people with the name Metze
- Lawrence Metze: American botanist
- Jared Metze: New Zealand rugby player
- Alexander Metze: music conductor and cellist
- Luis Metze: Uruguayan actor
- Bill Metze: sportscaster and American radio announcer
- Sol Metze: American painter
- Forrest Metze: Australian theatre personality
- Wolfgang Metze: German former biathlete
- Anna Metze: German artist
- Rupert Metze: American former soccer player
- Magnolia Metze: American former model
- Ella Metze: American actress
- Jean Metze: French fashion designer
- Lena Metze: German former novelist
- David Metze: American minor league baseball player
- Andrew Metze: American theatre director
- Jacob Metze: Irish former rugby player
- Walther Metze: German politician
- Henry Metze: American gymnastics bronze medalist
- William Metze: American former track and field athlete