Surname Breitkreutz - Meaning and Origin

Breitkreutz: What does the surname Breitkreutz mean?

The surname Breitkreutz is of German origin and is derived from the name Bretkreutz, which was a name given to someone who hailed from or had some connection to a place named Breitkreutz.

The name Breitkreutz literally translates to "broad crossings" in German. This likely refers to a place where two rivers or roads intersected or met.

The town of Breitkreutz is located in eastern Germany about 25 miles from Berlin. The earliest known recorded dates of this town go back to the 12th century. During the 16th century the region saw a great deal of trade and was later involved in multiple wars, such as the Thirty Years War.

The Breitkreutz name has spread all across Europe and is now a fairly common last name. While some may have kept the surname due to familial tradition, others may have adopted it due to having moved into or near the town across the centuries.

The Breitkreutz family name reflects a significant part of German history. It serves as a reminder of a family’s past, and the town of Breitkreutz has come to symbolize both a strong connection to their homeland and a continuity of heritage that transcends generations.

Breitkreutz: Where does the name Breitkreutz come from?

The surname Breitkreutz is most commonly found in Germany today, and is thought to have originated in the area of Bavaria. It is believed to have evolved from the German word “breit” which means wide or extensive, combined with “kreutz” which means cross. The surname was likely adopted as a sign of Christianity.

The surname has since spread to other German-speaking regions and can also be found in the United States, Canada, and throughout Europe. In the US, Breitkreutz has become most prevalent in the South, and the largest concentration of people with the name is in Texas. Breitkreutz is also reasonably common in other major cities with historically large German-speaking populations such as Chicago and New York.

The surname Breitkreutz is thought to have come to the US through immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries, and many people who now carry the name are likely descended from German immigrants who settled in the US after coming to the country as part of the "Germans to America" book series published between 1850 and 1897.

The Breitkreutz family is also highly represented in Canada, particularly in cities such as Toronto and Vancouver. As with the US, it is thought the surname was brought to Canada from Germany via immigration.

Whether in Germany or North America, the surname Breitkreutz has been successful in spreading throughout the world and now has many different branches.

Variations of the surname Breitkreutz

The surname Breitkreutz is derived from an old Germanic family name, breit, meaning “broad,” and kreutz, meaning “cross.” The most common variants and spellings of the surname include Britekreutz, Breutkreutz, Breitkuch, and Breitkeutz. Other variations of the surname include Breitkrug, Breitcruz, Breitkruize, and Breit Kruse.

In North America, several of the surnames have become anglicized as Breadkruz, Breadkrug, and Bredkruz. In addition to the different spellings of the surname, various variants of the same origin have also emerged, including Breitkreutzer, Breitkreuzer, Breitczeut, Kreutzbreit, Kreutzbreite, Kreutzkreutz, Kreutzbriet, and Kreutzbreitze.

The name Breitkreutz is of great antiquity and was first recorded in 1185 in the documents of the Augustine Monastery in the city of Berlin. From this early record, the Breitkreutz family spread across the German states of Brandenburg, Hessen-Nassau, and Prussia. Today, family members bearing the surname Breitkreutz are found mainly in Germany, the United States, Canada, England, and various other countries around the world.

The original Breitkreutz family is believed to have belonged to medieval German nobility. In addition to its noble background, Breitkreutz is also believed to be the first name to be called the “von” name in the Germany Empire. Since that time, the name has become an integral part of German history and culture.

In conclusion, the surname Breitkreutz and its variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin are a sign of the strength of the German historical legacy. The name is connected to centuries of tradition and continues to carry the weight of its proud history.

Famous people with the name Breitkreutz

• Doreen Breitkreutz: Former Canadian Member of Parliament and Deputy Speaker of the Senate
• Kyle Breitkreutz: Former professional Canadian football player
• Wilfred Breitkreutz: Canadian politician
• Egbert Breitkreutz: German WWI fighter ace
• Colin Breitkreutz: Canadian watercolorist
• Maria Breitkreutz: German art dealer
• Barbara Breitkreutz: German writer
• Georgia Breitkreutz: American actress
• Alfred Breitkreutz: German architect
• Greta Breitkreutz: German opera singer
• Kurt Breitkreutz: German sculptor
• Christian Breitkreutz: Former Senior Vice President at Hoffmann-La Roche
• Max Breitkreutz: German rugby player
• Werner Breitkreutz: German music promoter
• Josef Breitkreutz: Former West German Minister of Finance 16.163 Willi Breitkreutz: German general during WWII
• Paul B. Breitkreutz: American Colonial Period historian
• Lorenz Breitkreutz: German Schleswig-Holstein minister and Member of Parliament
• Syd Breitkreutz: Canadian politician
• Richard Breitkreutz: German writer, author of “Geheime Kriege”

Other surnames

Breitkreuz