Surname Sultzer - Meaning and Origin
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Sultzer: What does the surname Sultzer mean?
Sultzer is an English surname derived from a location-based name. In England, many surnames are derived from the names of places where the original bearer lived, worked, or held land. In this case, Sultzer is believed to have originated in the village of Sulz, which is located in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany.
The earliest known use of the name was in 1245, when a William de Suldis was mentioned in the Assize Court Rolls of Suffolk, England. It was used throughout England during the Middle Ages, and later spread to North America with some early settlers. Many variants of the name exist, including Sultz, Sultzer, Sulzer, and Sulcz.
The exact origin and meaning of the name are uncertain, but it is likely derived from the Old German word Suld, which means “swamp” or “water-meadow”. Alternatively, the name may stem from the Old German silte, which refers to soil rich in clay particles.
Today, the surname is found most commonly throughout the United States, as well as in Germany and England. Many descendants of the original Sultzer family continue to use the name, carrying on the tradition of honoring their ancestors’ place of origin.
Order DNA origin analysisSultzer: Where does the name Sultzer come from?
The surname Sultzer is a fairly uncommon name in the modern day, with the last name being most prevalent in countries like the United States, Canada, Germany, and Austria. The last name is thought to have originated from German-speaking countries and is derived from the word sultzen, which means "to boil." Americans bearing the Sultzer name can find the largest population in Pennsylvania, with other large concentrations in the states of New York, New Jersey, and Ohio. In Canada, the Sultzer last name is most commonly found in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. A smaller presence of the surname is also found in France, Switzerland, and Australia.
Research indicates that the earliest recorded use of the Sultzer surname belonged to Lodemann von Sultzen, a knight in Germany, who lived during the early 1200s. The Sultzer family from Germany eventually moved west and established a town in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany called Sultzen. Due to their association with the town, descendants of the original family often adopted the name Sultzer as their own.
Today, Sultzer is generally seen as a rare and uncommon name both inside and outside of Germany. In terms of its global population, the name is estimated to be shared by fewer than 1,000 people.
Variations of the surname Sultzer
The surname Sultzer is likely derived from the German word "zultzer" which translates to "curly-haired" or "tufted" in English. Variations of this surname include Sulzer, Zultzer, Zollzer, Solzer, Soelzer, Sohlzer, Sallzer, Sulzberger, Szolzer, Szulzer, and Soltz.
Sulzer is the most common spelling of this family name. It is found all throughout Germany, as well as in Canada, the United States, Austria, France, Italy, and Switzerland. It is believed to have originated in the 16th century when someone took an existing name that included the word "zultzer" and added the "s" to the beginning.
Sulzberger is a German and Ashkenazi Jewish surname found in the Vienna region. It is derived from the Yiddish word “zaltser”, which means “curly-haired”. This variation was most likely created when someone with the original Sultzer/Sulzer name took on a distinct Jewish identity.
Zollzer is closely related to Sulzer and likely derived from the place name of Zollhaus, located in the German state of Saxony. This variation is believed to have been created when a descendant of the Sulzer family moved to Zollhaus and began using the new location as part of the family name.
Solzer is another variation of this surname found primarily in Austria. This variation is thought to have been created when a family member with the Sulzer name moved to Austria and added the "Sol" to the beginning of the name for the sake of distinguishing it from the other variations found in Germany.
Soelzer, Sohlzer, and Sallzer are also variations of the same origin. The endings of these names denote a particular region in which the family originated. Soelzer likely originated in Bavaria, Sohlzer in Austria, and Sallzer in Switzerland. Each of these regional variations likely began as an effort to create a distinct geographical identity for each family.
Famous people with the name Sultzer
- Stephen C. Sultzer: U.S. Navy admiral
- S. J. Sultzer: American mathematics professor
- Jason Sultzer: Interim General Manager for MGM Grand Detroit
- Stanley Sultzer: Former Chairman, President and CEO of Chubb Corporation
- Michael Sultzer: American venture capitalist and entrepreneur
- Sally Sultzer: American politician and former Comptroller of the State of Maryland
- Silver Sultzer: Actor in the 1980s
- Robert M. Sultzer: Writer and producer of nature documentaries
- Erica Sultzer: American actress known for roles on Law & Order
- Theodore Sultzer: Prize-winning American poet