Surname Breitkreuz - Meaning and Origin

Breitkreuz: What does the surname Breitkreuz mean?

The last name Breitkreuz is a German surname of the late Middle Ages and is a variant of the original German family name Breitkreutz. The surname can be translated to mean "broad cross" due to the root words of the name; 'breit' meaning broad and 'kreuz' meaning cross.

This surname originates from families who lived in the area near a notable cross road, or "breitkreuz", which was a common signpost for travelers in that era. This signpost was the marker point to help direct travelers to their desired destination. Therefore the family with the name "Breitkreuz" likely made their living around or at a crossroad as innkeepers, wagon masters or travelers.

The Breitkreuz surname is still common today and is mainly found in Germany and other countries in continental Europe. People with the last name Breitkrez are part of a proud family history that stretches back hundreds of years. This important piece of heritage can be traced back to families of the 13th-14th century in the region now known as Germany.

The different spelling variations are common for last names of German origin, including "Breitkreutz," "Britekruz," "Brettkreutz," and "Breetkreuz," among others. Those bearing the last name Breitkreuz are likely to be related to each other and descend from the same family, although more research may be needed to determine specific connections.

Breitkreuz: Where does the name Breitkreuz come from?

The Breitkreuz surname is most prevalent in Germany today, particularly in the western regions of the country such as Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg, and Rhineland-Palatinate. It may also be found in other parts of Europe, including France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Austria.

The name ‘Breitkreuz’ is German in origin and may have been derived from two separate words: ‘breit’, meaning ‘broad’ or ‘wide’, and ‘kreuz’, meaning ‘cross’ or ‘crucifix’. It is possible that the name was originally a nickname for a person with a wide or broad forehead or face. Alternatively, it could have been a reference to a broadly built religious crucifix or cross.

The earliest recorded bearers of the Breitkreuz name lived in the medieval German region of Alamannia. Since then, the surname has spread across the country and beyond, with several variations and spellings.

Breitkreuz is still found in Germany today and many people with different variations of the name still live there. The name is also found in other countries, principally France, Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.

Variations of the surname Breitkreuz

The surname Breitkreuz is a German and Swiss surname which derived from a geographic term meaning “broad crossroads” and was likely first used to refer to a location or area. It is most commonly found in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and other countries with German-speaking populations. Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include:

Braitkreutzer, Breitkruez, Breyithkreuzer, Breyitkreutz, Breitkreutz, Breit Kreuz, Breittkreutz, Breetkreutz, Breithkreutz, Breetkreuzer, and more.

In German, the initial B is pronounced as an ‘F’, so the surname may also be found spelled with an initial ‘F’, as in: Fraitkruetz, Freitkreutz, Freitkruez, Freatkreutz, Freathkreutz, Freatkreuzer, and Freittkreutz.

The surname may also be found in other countries with which the Breitkreuz family has had contact, such as the United States of America and other countries in the Americas. In these countries the spelling is likely to be most often found as Breitkreuz, Breitkruz, or Breitkruze, however, other spellings of the surname may exist in which the ‘k’ is replaced with a ‘c’, such as:

Breytcruz, Breitcruz, and Breitcruze.

In some cases, the ‘e’ may also be replaced with an ‘a’, leading to spellings like:

Braitkruez, Braitkreuze, Braytkruez, and Braytkreuze.

In some cases, the spelling may also be simplified to just ‘Krez’ or ‘Kruz’, which can then be used as a surname. In other cases, the surname may have been altered slightly to better fit the language or culture of the country in which it is found, or to more easily identify individuals with the same name. The various spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Breitkreuz demonstrate the diversity of the Breitkreuz family and its legacy throughout the world.

Famous people with the name Breitkreuz

• Marco Breitkreuz: a German sailor who competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics and represented West Germany in the Star boat.
• Alexandre Breitkreuz: a Belgian marathon runner who represented his country at the Asian Games in 2018 and was the African record holder for the event in 2019.
• David Breitkreuz: a Canadian politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1993 to 2008.
• Darrah Breitkreuz: a Canadian assembly line worker and philosopher who gained fame through appearing in the 2006 documentary Manufactured Landscapes.
• Kent Breitkreuz: a professional Canadian ice hockey player who played more than 400 professional games.
• Terrell Breitkreuz: a Canadian pop and folk singer-songwriter who has released several albums since 2015.
• Breitkreuz: a German thrash metal band formed in the early 1990s.
• Bill Breitkreuz: a Canadian academic and university professor who has been researching the history of German-Canadians for over 25 years.
• August Breitkreuz: a German painter active in the 19th century and a representative of the Nazarene movement.
• Mattias Breitkreuz: a German violinist and composer active in the late 1800s.

Other surnames

Breitkreutz