Surname Schwanz - Meaning and Origin
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Schwanz: What does the surname Schwanz mean?
The last name Schwanz is of German origin and it is a baptismal surname. It is derived from the Middle High German word “swanc”, which originally referred to a swallow or swift. In German it can often be translated as “swan.” The name is often found in Alsace and Switzerland, mainly in the area of the Swiss canton of Zurich. It may also be an occupational name for someone who was a breeder or keeper of swans. This name may also have its origin in the “Schlachs”, a type of short, broad sword worn in the Middle Ages, so it may also have been a nickname for someone who was a master swordsman.
The name Schwanz is used throughout Europe in many languages, some of which include Spanish, Italian, and Danish. It is not an especially common name, and it is quite rare outside of Germany. Its use as a surname dates back to the 12th century in Germany. Other variants of the name include Schwenk, Schwank, and Schwanc.
In many parts of the world, Schwanz has come to be associated with the male anatomy—in particular, with the penis. It can be used as an insult in some languages, and some people find it to be in bad taste. However, this does not reflect the surname’s original meaning.
Order DNA origin analysisSchwanz: Where does the name Schwanz come from?
The last name Schwanz is most likely of German origin, and is most commonly found in German-speaking countries today. The last name is most likely derived from the German word for "tail," as the suffix "-wanz" is a variation of the German word "schwanz" meaning tail.
The surname Schwanz can be found in small numbers throughout Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is most concentrated in the southwest region of Germany, with the highest concentrations in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. It is also quite common in the German-speaking areas of Belgium.
Outside of Europe, the last name Schwanz is also present in North America. There are some Schwanz family lines that can trace their ancestry back to 17th century immigrants to Pennsylvania, some of which settled in what is now Cincinnati, Ohio. There are also scattered small pockets of the last name in the United States, most commonly in states such as California and Wisconsin.
The last name Schwanz is also quite common in Australia, with some family lines tracing their ancestry to German immigrants in the 19th century. The name is also present in parts of South America and South Africa, and in smaller numbers throughout other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Schwanz
The surname Schwanz is a German word meaning tail or penis. It may also have been derived from an old German term meaning "swan." The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin that may be seen are:
Schwan, Schwann, Schwen, Schwenn, Schwenc, Schwenken, Schwenk, Schwenck, Schwenen, Schwena, Schwank, Schwans, Schwaner, Schwanke, Schwanck, Schwang, Schwange, and Schwangel.
In some cases, the name is spelled Schwantz, Schwant, or Schwanca, and sometimes shortened to Schwant. In the Netherlands, the name is spelled Swaanz.
In southern Germany and Austria, the name is spelled Schwanser and Schwanzl. In the United States, the name may be written Shanz or Shantz.
The spelling Reishanz is also possible. Some families may have adopted different spellings due to the changing of surname spelling during immigration to the US.
In some cases, the spelling may have a double z such as Schwazze or Schwazz. Other names such as Schwanc may be found in some countries such as the Czech Republic and Poland.
The same origin may have been used to create names such as Shansuk and Schwanti. Also, the name may have been used to come up with names such as Swanze or Swanzon.
In summary, the surname Schwanz has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, many of which are likely to be seen around the world.
Famous people with the name Schwanz
- Heiner Schwanz: German theatre actor and author
- Gudrun Schwanz: German entrepreneur and ecologist
- Lily Schwanz: American actress
- Lydia Schwanz: Austrian journalist
- Willi Schwanz: German football player
- Andreas Schwanz: German comedian
- Hermann Schwanz: Austrian actor
- Andre Schwanz: Brazilian football manager
- Jan Schwanz: Danish historian 10.Ali Schwanz: British artist, designer, and social media star