Surname Sandholzer - Meaning and Origin

Sandholzer: What does the surname Sandholzer mean?

The German surname Sandholzer has roots in the Middle Ages and comes from the personal name Sandhulz or Santhulze, the name of an ancestor. Thus the name Sandholzer literally translates to “son or descendant of Sandhulz/Santhulze”.

Sandhulz and Santhulze are namespace variants of the German-language medieval personal name Sandholts, which is derived from the German noun sandholz, meaning “sand wood”. Sophisticated etymology suggests that this combination of words may have referred to a person who was a carver of wooden figures out of sandalwood, a type of wood, that was in greater demand during the Middle Ages due to its pleasant smell and many medicinal uses.

Another similar theory is that the Sandholz or Sandholts family was a group of people who lived and worked on the fringes of a large sandpit or sandy surface. In this case, they would have been the “sons of the sand” or “keepers of the sand”.

The Sandholzer surname is widespread throughout central and south-eastern Germany today and as far North as East Frisia. Despite geographical boundaries, widespread immigration means that the surname is now found in many other countries around the world.

Sandholzer: Where does the name Sandholzer come from?

Currently, the last name Sandholzer is most commonly found in Germany and Austria. There are also a significant number of occurrences in various parts of the United States, particularly in the Midwest and Northeast. In Germany and Austria, the name is mostly concentrated in the southern and western areas, including Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Vienna.

Sandholzer is a toponymic last name, meaning it is derived from a place name. In this case, the root of this name is the German words “Sand”, meaning sand, and “Holtz”, meaning wood, indicating it originated in a location likely near sandy forests.

Present day Sandholzers may find their roots in the village of Sandholz, located in Bavaria, Germany, dating back to the early 16th century. There are also records of Sandholzers inhabiting the Baden region of Germany since the 1500s.

In the United States, some of the most popular states with a significant number of people bearing the last name Sandholzer are Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois. This indicates that Sandholzers have been present in these states since at least the start of the 19th century.

In short, the surname Sandholzer can be found in many different countries, regions, and states, but its most prominent countries of origin are Germany and Austria.

Variations of the surname Sandholzer

The various variants, spellings, and surnames of Sandholzer are Sandhölzer, Sandhülzer, Sandhuëlzer, Sandhöpler, Sandhüpler, Sandhuëpler, Sandeler, Sandaler, Sandelor, Sandalor, Sandler, Sandelar, Sondoler, Sandelar, Sondeler, Sondaler, Sondelar, and Sandelor.

Sandholzer is a German occupational surname derived from the Middle High German word ‘santholza’ meaning ‘one who plans, builds, or repairs houses or walls’. Those who originally had the surname were most likely craftsmen or craftsmen's helpers.

Sandholzer is considered a habitational name, suggesting it was also likely derived from an area where that name was prominent or lengthy use was made of a name or term reflecting the work or trade of the original bearer.

Sandler is the most common spelling variant, and Sandeler, Sandalor, and Sandelar are likely to represent distortions of Sandler. Sandhölzer, Sandhülzer, and Sandhuëlzer represent various spellings of Sandholzer. Sandhöpler, Sandhüpler, and Sandhuëpler likely indicate diminutives or hypocoristic forms of Sandhölzer or Sandholzer.

It can be seen, then, that Sandholzer is a distinctly German occupational surname with various spelling variants being derived from it.

Famous people with the name Sandholzer

• Jeff Sandholzer: Former Major League Baseball player
• Eric Sandholzer: Former Olympic swimmer
• Carl Sandholzer: Former NBA player
• Karl Sandholzer: Austrian painter
• Gabe Sandholzer: Artist, art director and designer
• Jeff Sandholzer: IFBB professional bodybuilder
• Will Sandholzer: Author of historical fiction books
• Tristen Sandholzer: Actor on the television show "Racecar"
• Mark Sandholzer: Professor at the University of Missouri
• Richard Sandholzer: illustrator and member of the Illustrators Guild

Other surnames

Sandholz