Surname Soltz - Meaning and Origin
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Soltz: What does the surname Soltz mean?
The surname Soltz is of German origin, derived from the Old High German "salz," meaning salt. Historically, it was an occupational name for a salt miner or a salt trader. Surnames often originated as a means to identify individuals by their profession, their location or even a personal characteristic. Therefore, a person named Soltz would likely have been associated with the salt industry in some way. There are also multiple geographical variations and spellings of the name, including Saltz, Salz, and Schultz, among others. They are widely spread around the world due to migration but are most commonly found in Germany and other countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Like many surnames, the exact interpretation could vary by region and over time.
Order DNA origin analysisSoltz: Where does the name Soltz come from?
The last name Soltz is most commonly found in the United States, with the highest concentrations in Pennsylvania and New York. Specifically, Soltz is most heavily concentrated in Berks County, Pennsylvania, and several of its surrounding counties in the Lehigh Valley region.
Soltz may have derived from a German surname, though its original spelling in Germany may have changed over time before entering the United States. Given the prevalence of the surname in Pennsylvania, it is likely that the family's first arrival in America came through the state, with some members migrating further to areas like New York and other states in the region.
The presence of Soltz in the United States is also present in states like Texas, Illinois, and California, although typically in much smaller numbers than in Pennsylvania and New York. Even so, the surname remains relatively uncommon today, with fewer than 5,000 people in the United States bearing the name according to the latest US Census data.
Variations of the surname Soltz
The surname Soltz is of German origin and there are several variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Common variations of the surname Soltz are Seltz, Sultz, Zeltz, and Zults.
The most common spelling variations of Soltz are Seltz, Sultz, Zeltz, and Zults. All of these spellings share the same origin, and many reference works list them as variants. In some instances, the "s" may be replaced with a "z" or vice versa. Additionally, the surname may be spelled with two "s" or "z" characters, depending on its geographic origin and the time frame in which it was used and recorded.
Variations of the Soltz surname also exist that contain prefixes or suffixes. For example, the prefix "von" often indicates a noble or aristocratic German heritage, and the suffix "er" may stem from a truncated version of the word "son." This usually indicates a surname derived from the first name of the father of the current lineage. Some examples of these types of surnames include Soltzer and von Soltz.
Other variations of the Soltz name may be derived from slight alterations in pronunciation. Seltz may be phonetic spelling of Sultz, Zeltz to Zults, and vice versa. There may also be variant spellings stemming from areas that still used an archaic variant of the German language, such as the Fraktur writing system. Spelling variations that stem from this type of language can be difficult to distinguish from other spellings.
Finally, the surname Soltz may also have adopted new spellings due to immigration, such as Solz, Soltzky, or Salz. These altered spellings are quite common in countries like the United States, where German immigrants often changed their surname to more distinctly authenticate their new homeland.
Famous people with the name Soltz
- Jon Soltz: Military veteran and political activist, and founder of the non-profit VoteVets. He has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration and its stance on foreign policy and U.S. veterans' rights.
- Woody Soltz: Professional Poker player with over 50 tournament and cash game cashes to his name, including the 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event.
- Victoria Soltz: Scholar and professor of Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. She specializes in the study of emotions, with a focus on guilt, anger, fear, and other related concepts.
- Scott Soltz: International tax attorney and partner at the law firm of New York's White & Case. He has a focus on cross-border tax issues, including the Investment Tax Act, the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting initiative, and transfer pricing.
- Dan Soltz: Well-known journalist and media consultant, with extensive coverage and commentary on social and political issues and current events, particularly gun control and veteran care in the United States.
- Robert Soltz: Medical researcher and oncologist who helped develop a novel approach for treating cancer using human-derived nanobacteria. He has served as a professor as well as a researcher at various universities in the United States.
- Max Soltz: Television producer and showrunner whose credits include shows like “Will & Grace,” “Friends,” “That ‘70s Show,” and “The Wonder Years.”
- Pat Soltz: Landscape architect and urban development specialist whose work has helped revitalize and recreate many cities around the world, including cities in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia.
- Ben Soltz: Managing partner of the GreenLight Group, a global consulting firm that specializes in developing renewable energy projects. His firm provides strategic advice to governments, businesses, and nonprofits on the best ways to develop sustainable projects.
- Jamey Soltz: Renowned sculptor noted for his bronze and wood sculpture works, with many of his works being placed in prominent places around the world, including Rockefeller Center, Harvard University, and the Denver Art Museum.