Surname Scholz - Meaning and Origin
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Scholz Surname and the iGENEA DNA Test: A Journey Towards a Diverse Heritage and Personal Identity
Upon receiving the results of an iGENEA DNA test, I found myself embarking on a nuanced journey of personal identity and heritage. The Scholz surname, previously perceived simply as a family name, now represents more than just a German lineage, revealing a complex tapestry of diversities woven within my DNA.
U. Scholz
read moreScholz: What does the surname Scholz mean?
Scholz is a German surname that has its origins in the Middle High German word "schultheize". The term "schultheize" was used to denote a village head or a mayor during medieval times. The role of a schultheize (translated as "reeve" in English) was to maintain law and order, manage village affairs and act as a sort of judge. Therefore, the surname Scholz essentially means 'mayor' or 'village head.' It denotes ancestry linked to someone who held an important position in their community. Over time, as surnames started getting passed down through generations, Scholz became a family name without necessarily signifying the profession or role of the individual. Today, it is a fairly common surname in Germany and also found among communities of German descent around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisScholz: Where does the name Scholz come from?
The last name Scholz is most commonly found in Germany, where it is one of the top 100 most common surnames. It is typically found throughout Western and Northern Europe, including in Austria, Czech Republic, and France, as well as countries formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire such as Hungary, Romania, and parts of the former Yugoslavia. The family name is believed to have originated in Germany over 1,000 years ago, and was a name given to those who worked as an occupier of an estate or a small landowner.
Outside of Europe, Scholz is found in North America, particularly in the United States, where it is most common in states of with a large German-American population such as Wisconsin, Minnesota, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. In the US, the Scholz family is descended from German immigrants who came to the country in the late 19th and early 20th century, and it is estimated that there are now over 11,000 Scholz families living in America.
The Scholz family name is also found in South America, particularly in Brazil, which has a large German-descended population. In Australia, the surname is typically found in areas with a large population of German-speaking immigrants, specifically in New South Wales and Queensland.
In short, the last name Scholz is found throughout Europe and in many other places around the world as a result of German emigration over the last few centuries.
Variations of the surname Scholz
The surname Scholz is a German language surname that can originate from either an occupational or topographical origin.
Occupationally, it is derived from the Middle High German word ‘sculderen’, meaning ‘to collect’ or ‘credit’, and can refer to a financial officer or a tax collector. As a topographical name, it could’ve been derived from settlements or dwellings located near a mound or hill, so the name could’ve originally meant someone who lived near, or worked at a such place.
Over the years, the surname has generated several variants in different languages, which include: Scholze (German), Scholtz (German), Scholtz (Jewish), Scholles (German), Schoelles (German), Scholtes (Jewsih), Scholttes (Dutch), Scholtens (Dutch), Schulz (German, from the derivative Šulc), Scholzky (German), Scholzen (German), Scholxt (Ekpeye) etc.
In some cases, a surname can be altered due to the regional pronunciation and different spelling variations of the same name, which results in different surnames, but of same origin. These spellings are: Solt (German) Solts (German), Soltz (German), Soletz (Jewish) Schoeltz (German) Choltez (Jewish) etc.
Due to the different origins and spellings of the surname Scholz, there can be several surnames and surnames variants of same origin. A few of them are Schulze (German), Schulz (German), Scholtz (German), Scholze (German), Scholles (German), Scholtz (Jewish), Schoultz (Czech/Slovak), Choltz (Jewish), Soltz (German/Dutch), Soltes (Jewish) etc.
Famous people with the name Scholz
- Tom Scholz: American songwriter, musician, and engineer famously known as the founding member and guitarist of Boston
- Brandon Scholz: American lobbying professional and marketing executive who was also a former political operative
- Franz Scholz: German politician who served as Minister of Education, Arts and Culture in Baden-Württemberg
- Jordan Scholz: former pitcher in Major League Baseball
- Muriel Scholz: French surfer and ocean conservationist
- Chris Scholz: Canadian cinematographer and director
- Johann Scholz: German classical archaeologist
- Ole Scholz: German entomologist
- Max Scholz: German modern pentathlete
- Kurt Scholz: German football player