Surname Goertz - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Goertz: What does the surname Goertz mean?
The last name Goertz is a German surname derived from a personal name composed of the elements "gört" meaning god and "hari," meaning ruler or prince. It is believed that the original bearer of this name was someone of a high rank or of royal descent. The Goertz family was first found in East Prussia and spread throughout western Germany during the Middle Ages.
This surname is commonly associated with the city of Goertz in Westphalia. This city was first mentioned in 1228 as a market town and eventually became a center of commerce and culture in the region. As a result, many people bearing the Goertz surname would have lived in and around the city of Goertz.
Today the Goertz surname is still widely prevalent in Germany, and it can also be found in other countries which have a large German population such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. There are many variations of this surname throughout different regions, such as Görtz, Goertzen, and Görts. Regardless of the spelling, this name is typically associated with nobility and a high social standing.
Order DNA origin analysisGoertz: Where does the name Goertz come from?
The last name Goertz is most commonly found in Germany, where it originated. According to a population database, it is the 1342nd most common last name in Germany. It is also found in other German-speaking countries, including Austria and Liechtenstein. The last name can also be found in the United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, South Africa, and other countries, often due to German immigrants and their descendants.
In the United States, Goertz is the 4,481st most common last name, with around 7,670 people using it. It is most concentrated in the Midwest states, particularly in the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. In Wisconsin, Goertz is the most common in the Sheboygan and Fond du Lac areas. In Texas, it is most common in the Dallas and Fort Worth metro area.
The origin of the name "Goertz" likely has Germanic roots, with the "Görtz" spelling indicating the name was originally "Görts" or something similar. It is thought to have several possible meanings: a pet form of "Görtz", which is derived from the name "Gordianus"; an occupational name for someone who worked as a "Gerber" (tanner); and a habitational name from Goerz in Westphalia, Germany.
Variations of the surname Goertz
The surname Goertz is most commonly spelled as Gortz, Goertz, Goertzen, Goerts, Görts, and Goertsman. It is likely that the origin of the name is German, as it is most common in Germany. However, similar variants can also be found in other European countries.
The name Goertz can be incredibly diverse in its spelling and origination depending on the person's family history. For instance, in Dutch, the name can be spelled Gerts, Goerts, or Gorts, and in Yiddish, the name is Gorts, Gerts, or Gertsen. In Scotland, the name is often spelled as Gortson or Gortson.
The name Goertz may have derived from two sources, either as a habitational name that was derived from the Old German personal name Gōdric or from the Old High German Grōz and meaning “counsellor”.
Other variants or spellings of the name evolved over time due to cultural influences and local dialects. For instance, in the Netherlands, goertz became gerts or goerts, and in Prussia it became Goertzmann. In Belgium, the name is spelled Gertsman or Goertzman. Similarly, in Czech it is spelled Gertzmann, and in Austria it is spelled Gerzmann.
Throughout the centuries, the name Goertz has traveled around the world through emigrants and settlers. Today, it can be found in the United Kingdom, the United States, South Africa, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
Famous people with the name Goertz
- Anthony Goertz: Former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the San Francisco Giants during the 1981 and 1982 seasons.
- Maxwell Goertz: Canadian actor and producer who has appeared in television shows and films such as “Immortals” and “Fifty Shades of Grey.”
- Michael Goertz: German physicist and professor at the Technical University of Munich.
- Nathan Goertz: Piano, violin, and guitar player; currently composer of original soundtrack music for the popular video game series “The Sims.”
- Willard Goertz: Canadian investment advisor and businessman who has served as the lead advisor to enterprise-level companies such as Rogers Communications Inc., Toronto Dominion Bank, and Cisco Systems, Inc.
- Philip Goertz: President and CEO of GOERTZ AG, a German logistics company.
- Robert Goertz: Chief investment officer of ASYM Capital, a venture capital and private equity firm specializing in companies from the technology, media, and health sectors.
- Dominic Goertz: Actor and television presenter who currently appears in the Canadian comedy series “Debate This!”
- Beatrice Goertz: German artist and sculptor whose artworks have appeared in galleries and museums across Europe.
- Julie Goertz: American-born author and illustrator of children’s books, including the popular “Bella’s Birthday Hat” and “Annie’s Day at the Beach.”