Surname Großeholz - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Großeholz: What does the surname Großeholz mean?
The surname Großeholz (or Grossholz) is a German occupational name meaning "large-wood". It was originally given to workers in the lumber industry or local forest wardens who processed or tended to large amounts of wood. Similar surnames derived from this occupation include Holz (wood), Holzapfel (apple wood), or Holzmann (wood-worker).
In some cases, the surname Großeholz may also refer to a town or village with the same name, such as the one in the Bavarian region of Neu-Ulm. In general, German surnames commonly indicate a geographic origin, occupation, or a characteristic of the bearer.
In some cases, the surname Großeholz may also carry a meaning beyond its literal wood-based origin. For example, in old Teutonic language, "groß" meant "big" or "mighty". In this case, the surname Großeholz could also suggest the size and strength of the bearer.
Although the precise origin of the name Großeholz is unclear, it is known to have first appeared in writiing during the 1100s. Today, it is still common in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, as well as elsewhere in Europe and beyond.
Order DNA origin analysisGroßeholz: Where does the name Großeholz come from?
The last name Großeholz is most commonly found in Germany and Switzerland today. It is a relatively uncommon surname and doesn't appear in the top 1000 most common surnames in either country.
The name is believed to be of German origin and likely derived from a place name or reference to a type of tree. This is based on the first part of the name, Große, which means "large" or "great," and holz, meaning "wood." It is possible that a family with this name originated from a place known for big or tall trees, which would have been an easily known characteristic of the landscape where they lived.
The name is also found in Czech Republic, United States, Austria, and Canada, although it is less common in those countries. It is most prevalent in Germany, where people with the last name Großeholz and its variations make up roughly .001% of the population. In Switzerland, the name is found at similar levels.
Given its typically Germanic roots, the last name Großeholz may still have ties to the region today. It is possible that those with the Großeholz name today originate from the same area where the name began, although more research is necessary to be certain.
Variations of the surname Großeholz
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Großeholz include Grossholz, Großholz, Grohholz, Größholz, Grösseholz, Groescholz, Grosshulze, and Grosholz. A patronymic form of the surname, Grossholtz, is also found.
The spelling is derived from the Middle High German terms, gross, meaning “large”, and holz, meaning “wood”, which combined to mean “large wood”. The surname was likely applied to a person who lived in or near a wooded area that was larger than the average.
The contraction of the two terms to Großeholz, and then to the various forms found in most of Germany today, is believed to have occurred in the 14th century in Bavaria. From there, it spread through the rest of the country, often taking different spelling forms due to language changes and regional differences in dialect.
At the same time, Grossholz emigrants took the name from the home country to areas such as the United States, Australia, Switzerland, or the Netherlands. In these countries, it is often spelled with different letters, such as Grosholz, and the v becomes an h in some parts of the United States. Furthermore, the various spellings reflect the spelling of the name in the native languages of these countries.
In addition, numerous variants of the name can also be found locally in Germany such as Grohholz, Grohscholz, Grossschulze, Grolescholz, and various other spelling variants. So, while all of the spellings are derived from the same two terms in Middle High German, the variants and spellings of Großeholz today are evidence of the linguistically divergent countries of origin.
Famous people with the name Großeholz
- Brigitte Großeholz, German journalist
- Charlotte Großeholz, Swiss long-distance runner
- Erich Großeholz, German mathematician
- Johann Großeholz, German alpine skier
- Johannes Großeholz, German bodybuilder
- Marcus Großeholz, German football manager
- Max Großeholz, German biologist
- Maximilian Großeholz, German musician
- Paul Großeholz, German politician
- Peter Großeholz, German footballer
- Petra Großeholz, German handball player
- Sara Großeholz, Canadian figure skater
- Simon Großeholz, German squash player
- Theodor Großeholz, German architect