Lantz
Germany (green) and Sweden (orange) in Europe
Pronunciationlan-ts, lahn-ts, lahns
Origin
Word/nameGerman, Swedish
Meaning"Land," or “Lance”
Region of origin Germany
 Sweden
Other names
Variant form(s)Lanz, Lanze, Lantze, Lanitz, Land, Lanzo, Lando[1][2]

Lantz is a surname of German and Swedish origin.

German foot soldiers fighting with lances

German origins

The German surname Lantz is thought to have several origins. It is thought to possibly be a variant habitational surname adopted by people from settlements called "Lanz,"[3] a shortened habitational name derived from "Lanzo" or "Lando," which was originally a short form of various compound names using the element "land" or "territory",[4] or possibly derived as a warrior's name from the weapon lance (modern German, "lanze"). Though found throughout Germany, today the surname is most heavily concentrated in the states of Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein in the north, and Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland in the southwest.[5] Geographically, it may have originated in the region of Old Saxony.[6]

Swedish origin

The Swedish surname Lantz is thought to have originated as a military-related name derived from "lance," (modern Swedish, "lans") which is a pole weapon designed to be used by a mounted warrior or cavalry soldier called a Lancer.[7] Military-related names became relatively common in the Swedish military in the 17th and 18th centuries as members were required to adopt unique surnames as a means to distinguish themselves from one another.[8]

German Variants

  • Lanz
  • Lanze
  • Lantze
  • Lanitz
  • Land
  • Lanzo
  • Lando

Notable people with the surname

See also

References

  1. ↑ "lantz History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms". houseofnames.com. Retrieved 22 June 2018
  2. ↑ "German Surname Distribution Map, Lantz". geogen.stoepel.net. Retrieved 22 June 2018
  3. ↑ "Lantz Family History". ancestry.com. Retrieved 22 June 2018
  4. ↑ "Lantz". oxfordreference.com. Retrieved 22 June 2018
  5. ↑ "German Surname Distribution Map, Lantz". geogen.stoepel.net. Retrieved 22 June 2018
  6. ↑ "lantz History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms". houseofnames.com. Retrieved 22 June 2018
  7. ↑ "Lantz". behindthename.com. Retrieved 22 June 2018
  8. ↑ "Lantz". behindthename.com. Retrieved 22 June 2018
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