Surname Soltis - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Soltis: What does the surname Soltis mean?
The last name Soltis is of Slavic origin, derived from the word “solec”, which means village in Polish. It is also found in other languages such as Czech and Slovak.
The surname Soltis is usually associated with those whose origins lie in regions around Eastern Europe, such as the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, and the former Czechoslovakia. It is also reported to be found in Israel, the United States, Brazil, and other countries.
The meaning of the name Soltis isn’t necessarily associated with a particular region, but instead, it denotes the connection of people to a place. Those who carry this last name can often trace their ancestry back to a particular village or region. Perhaps their ancestors have been living in that village for centuries, and when they moved to a different place, they took their last name with them.
Today, the surname Soltis is a reminder of ancestral roots and it often serves as an indicator of where one’s family originated from. It symbolizes a link to the past, a connection to the shared history of family, and serves as an introduction to the heritage of one’s family.
Order DNA origin analysisSoltis: Where does the name Soltis come from?
The last name Soltis is common today primarily in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in modern-day Romania, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, and Ukraine. The last name first appears in 18th-century records in eastern Slovakia and in the next few centuries spread through migration to other parts of Central and Eastern Europe.
It is estimated that at least 30,000 people in the world have the last name Soltis. The highest concentration is now in Romania with over 11,000 people sharing the name. In Slovakia, more than 7,000 have the name and in Poland over 4,000 people share it. A smaller but still sizeable number of people with the last name can also be found in Austria, Hungary, and Ukraine.
It is unclear what the origin of the last name is, but it could possibly be the name of a type of agricultural tool or a place. In some dialects of Slovak, soltíš is a type of hoe and in some dialects solsť is a type of axe, so it is possible that Soltis or its earlier form Soltíš was a name for someone who made or used tools. Alternatively, Soltis could also be a toponymic name derived from a place name, but no clear evidence of this has been found.
Outside of Eastern Europe, the last name Soltis is much rarer but can still be found in places with Slovak or Eastern European immigrant populations. These include the United States, Canada, Australia, and parts of Latin America.
Variations of the surname Soltis
Soltis is a surname of Slavic origin. Variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin for Soltis include Soltis, Zolty, Zoltanski, Zoltzkowski, Soltzechinski, Solturesi, and Soltzman.
Soltis is derived from the Old Prussian name Zolt and is believed to have been born by Slavic settlers in the Prussian region of modern-day Germany and Poland. The original surname likely referred to a blacksmith or smelter of metals, as "zolty" literally means "molten".
The many variants of the name Soltis indicate a rich cultural history. Many of these names come from the same Slavic language roots and appear in records in Poland, Russia, Ukraine, and beyond.
The most common variations of the Soltis surname in the United States are Soltis and Zolty. The European language version Zoltanski is sometimes seen in records, as is Solturesi, the Italian spelling of the name. Soltzman appears in Jewish records, probably an abbreviation of Zoltanski. Other surnames, such as Zoltzkowski and Soltzechinski, are likely variants of Zoltanski.
Despite the variety of surnames, all versions of Soltis share a common cultural and linguistic origin. Those with this surname may take comfort in knowing that a long and rich heritage lives in their name.
Famous people with the name Soltis
- Grandmaster Andy Soltis; He is a Grandmaster chess player and author of numerous chess books. He was inducted into the US Chess Hall of Fame in 2012.
- Diane Soltis; She is a professor of Russian studies at the University of Virginia.
- Martin Soltis Jr; He is a Grammy-nominated jazz musician and composer known for his vibrant, avant-garde style.
- Kelli Soltis; She is a professional photographer and artist whose work has been exhibited internationally and is widely exhibited across the U.S.
- Joe Soltis; He is a former NFL defensive lineman who won a Super Bowl with the Chicago Bears.
- Alicia Soltis; She is the current anchor for the Fox News Network's Squawk Box show.
- Kyle Soltis; He is a professional MMA fighter and martial arts instructor.
- Bailey Soltis; She is a semi-professional surfer and Instagram influencer with over 100,000 followers.
- Joe Soltis Sr; He is the owner of the record label "embrace the underground music" and the founder of the Legendary "Dimension Zero" Festivals.
- Mitchel Soltis; He is a producer and film director known for his work on the Showtime series "Masters of Horror".