Surname Schultis - Meaning and Origin
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Schultis: What does the surname Schultis mean?
The surname Schultis is of German origin, and it is a patronymic surname which means "son of Schulte". The name Schulte itself is a clerkship name, derived from the German word 'scealt' which means head of a village, or magistrate. In ancient German tribal society, Schultes were responsible for maintaining peace and order by settling disputes between the clans, and representing the tribe in meetings with neighbouring settlements.
In the late medieval era, as the society in Germany transitioned from clans to villages, scultes were mostly replaced by mayors and authorities from state-centered governments. This had a significant impact on the meaning of the surname Schultis, as it now referred to the association with civil and state services.
In modern times people bearing the Schultis surname may not be descendants from the original Schulte officials, but rather it is likely to have been adopted by families who sought to associate themselves with the esteemed rank. The surname Schultis may also be derived from the Slavic given name 'Schultis', which was often given by monks as a form of blessing, or it might be derived from surname 'Schultz', which traces back to the term for 'tax-collector'.
Regardless of its origin, the surname Schultis carries with it the unique history of German tribal life, as well as its legacy of civil services and law.
Order DNA origin analysisSchultis: Where does the name Schultis come from?
The last name Schultis is most common in Germany, where its roots can be traced back hundreds of years. Though there are probably no living people who can lay claim to the Schultis name originating from Germany prior to WWII, multiple records from the former German Empire point to the name spreading throughout Europe during that timeframe.
Today, the surname is often found in the United States, Canada, England, and Germany. Individuals with this surname may trace their roots to many areas across Europe, particularly North Rhineland Westphalia in Germany. It is also common in areas with close German cultural associations, such as the Netherlands, Austria, parts of Russia, and Switzerland.
Those of Dutch ancestry may have heard of the Schultis name through the Dutch descendant, Jan Schultis. Jan was born in 1579 and eventually settled in the Dutch East Indies before his death in 1638.
In the United States, Schultis descendants are often found in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest. There are Schultis families living in multiple states including Washington, Oregon, South Dakota, and Iowa.
The Schultis last name does not appear to be as common in the newer generations, as more and more family lines have added surnames throughout the years. However, the Schultis name is still recognisable and does appear in records worldwide, though it is not as popular as it once was in centuries past.
Variations of the surname Schultis
The surname Schultis is of Germanic origin and is believed to date back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word “schultheis” meaning “village judge” or “county magistrate”. In its early formation, the name Schultis was spelled differently as “Schulze”. This form of spelling indicated the office of a village mayor or headman of a rural settlement. During the evolution of the German language, the spelling of Schultis has changed to several variants depending on the region of origin.
Variants of Schultis include Schulte, Schulze, Schulteis, Schultheis, Schulthess, Schulteiss, and Schulthies. Spellings similar to Schultis include Schultes, Schultis, Schultz, Shultz, and Shultes.
The surname Schultis is also found in variations of Dutch, Flemish and Danish spellings, such as Schultes, Schultis, Schultz, and Schulze. In some areas, the surname was Anglicized to Shultz.
The use of patronymic surnames, which were formed from the name of the father or other ancestor, were also adopted in some instances. For example, the patronymic surname Kunzschultes was derived from the first name of the father combined with the surname Schultes.
Surnames related to Schultis include several Germanic surnames including Schubert, Schultz, Schuetz, Schumacher, and Schurz. There are also Dutch variants of the surname such as Schoofs and Schulten.
Famous people with the name Schultis
- Mirella Schultis: A German actress
- Julius Schultis: A German-American writer and publicist
- Barbara Schultis: An American classical performance artist
- Piet Schultis: A Dutch footballer
- Adalbert Schultis: A Bavarian forestry officer
- Bill Schultis: An American former ice hockey player
- Dave Schultis: An American lawyer
- Wolf Schultis: A German sociologist
- Georg Schultis: A German politician
- Robert Schultis: An American physicist