Surname Clontz - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'C'
Clontz: What does the surname Clontz mean?
The surname Clontz is believed to be of German origin and derives from the Middle High German word Kloncze, meaning "ploughshare", a reference to a tool used in agriculture. The name can be found in numerous forms throughout Europe, and it appears to have been in common use in various countries since at least the 14th century.
In Germany in particular, the Clontz name is associated with the former Electoral Palatinate, an area that was known for its artisan and craft activities in past centuries. The original Clontz family resided in a small city in Bavaria named Lauda and may have been involved in metalwork, as is suggested by the meaning of the name.
Traditionally, the Clontz surname has been used as a byname to refer to a person associated with a particular craft or trade, or to a person from a certain place. As the surname eventually spread around the world, people who bore the surname were often connected to migrant communities and were closely linked with certain countries or regions.
Today, Clontz is a surname that is recognized globally, with versions of the name appearing in different countries including Germany, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Greece, and Australia. It is a surname that has stood the test of time and been adopted by numerous families from different backgrounds.
Order DNA origin analysisClontz: Where does the name Clontz come from?
Today, the last name Clontz is most commonly found in the United States of America, where it ranks as the 7,574th most common surname in the country. Outside of the US, the name can also be found throughout England, Scotland, and Wales, ranking at 8,277th, 8,394th, and 14,125th respectively. It is also found along the eastern coast of Australia in Brisbane and New South Wales.
The exact origin of the name Clontz is unknown, but many believe it is derived from the old English words 'clun' and 'clampon,' which mean a high steep hill and a village respectively. Alternatively, it may be from an Anglicized form of a German name, such as 'Kluenz.'
The Clontz family has many branches, including those with branches that have adopted the surname Speck, thought to be a derivative of 'clunk or 'clunkthsoc'—an obsolete Germanic dialect that roughly translates to 'cleft in a rock.'
The most common variant of the name Clontz is also Clunz, though it is thought to be interchangeable with Clontz in many cases.
In the US, the Clontz family can mainly be found in the central and southern regions, particularly in North and South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and Florida. Records indicate that the earliest Clontz family members came to the US with German immigrants in the early 1700s and made their home in the Appalachian and Mid-Atlantic regions. The name can also be found throughout Europe, especially in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Variations of the surname Clontz
The surname Clontz is an anglicized variant of the Germanic surname Klontz, which is derived from the Middle High German word ‘klont’, meaning ‘clan’. Variants of this surname include Klontz, Clonts, Klonts, Klantz, Clantz, Klahntz, Clahntz, and Klontz.
The Polish version of this surname is ‘Klont’ or ‘Klon’, while the French/German derived versions include ‘Clon’, ‘Cloo’, and ‘Clonc’.
Other associated surnames include Clance, Clants, Kyncl, and Kyntz. A Dutch clan with the surname is spelled ‘Klunz’ or ‘Kluntz’.
The Clontz-Klontz association has survived changing national boundaries over time, appearing in Germany’s Black Forest, French speaking Wallonia and the subsequently German occupied countries of Belgium, Luxembourg and Denmark, and also in various areas of Eastern Europe.
Some spelling variants of the surname indicate specific ancestral origins. The prefix ‘Kl’ indicates a Germanic origin, while the prefixes ‘Cl’ and ‘Clo’ indicate a French or Norman origin.
The surname Clontz is considered to be of both Germanic and French origin, but its true origin is uncertain and is likely influenced by migration patterns and languages spoken in various areas of Europe over the centuries.
Famous people with the name Clontz
- Jeff Clontz, former professional basketball and baseball player.
- Ron Clontz, former professional basketball player and coach.
- Jerry Clontz, former NFL offensive lineman.
- Joe Clontz, electric blues singer and songwriter.
- Jack Clontz, former minor league baseball player.
- Tess Clontz, American artist.
- Mark Clontz, professional football player.
- Howard Clontz, former professional baseball player.
- Zack Clontz, former collegiate baseball player.
- Ace Clontz, American musician.