Surname Heintzer - Meaning and Origin
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Heintzer: What does the surname Heintzer mean?
The last name Heintzer has Germanic origins, and is most likely derived from the Middle High German term “heinzer”, which is composed of the words “hein” meaning “home” and “zer” meaning “warden, protector, or guard”. Thus, the surname Heintzer can be interpreted as “guard of the home”. Heintzer may also come from a Middle High German personal name “Heinz”, which is a diminutive form of “Heinrich” meaning “head of household” or “ruler of the household”.
The Heintzers were found mostly in the High German speaking regions of Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and the Low Countries during the Middle Ages, particularly in the southern regions of the country. Families bearing this name developed local influence and can be found in the region until the present day.
The surname Heintzer spread with the waves of German migration to the US beginning in the 17th century. During this time, families bearing the Heintzer surname were some of the many German immigrants who started new lives in America with the promise of a better future. Today, there are a large number of people with the surname Heintzer in Germany, the US, and around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisHeintzer: Where does the name Heintzer come from?
The last name Heintzer is most commonly found in Germany today. More specifically, it is most commonly found in the centre and southern regions of the country, including in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Saxony, and Rhineland-Palatinate. The name is likely of Germanic origins, as it first appears in the region back in the Middle Ages.
In terms of distribution of the name, Heintzer is not an overly common name in modern Germany. According to the database of the German telephone directory, it is estimated that around 11,000 individuals bear the name today, a very small proportion relative to the country’s total population.
Outside of Germany, it is possible to find individuals with the last name Heintzer in countries like the United States. The name began to spread to the Americas during the 18th century, as German immigrants sought a better life. By the time of the 1900 US Census, around 350 individuals with this surname had already arrived on US soil.
That being said, most people with the last name Heintzer today still remain in Germany. The name has been archived in documents such as German church records since at least the year 1645, and has since extended to this day.
Variations of the surname Heintzer
The surname Heintzer has a varied number of spellings, variants, and surnames which all originate from the same root name. The most common variants of Heintzer include Heintz, Heyntz, Heintzmann, Heintzman, Heintzheimer, Heintzmanner, Heintzberger, Hintz, and Hintzman. Each of these have their own unique variations and derived spellings, such as idealizing of the “H” which could change to either an “E” or “I,” resulting in spellings such as Eintz, Iintz, or Entz. Other derived spellings include typical changes from a Germanic spelling to an Anglicized spelling, such as Hintzel, Heintzle, Hinkel, Hinkle, and Hinckel. There are also Slovenian variant surnames of the Heintzer family name, such as Hintzer and Hintzir, which originate from the same root name. Other descended surnames from the Heintzer lineage consist of Launchbaugh, Funkhouser, and Biener from the German and Pennsylvania German gibberish identifying names such as Seebald, Heintsey, and Heintseyman. With all of the many associated spellings and derivatives, it is clear that the Heintzer family name has a rich and diverse past.
Famous people with the name Heintzer
- Dwight D. Heintzer: a Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps who received the Navy Cross and the Purple Heart during World War Two.
- Bernard Heintzer: a professional violinist from Germany. He worked extensively with many renowned orchestras and conductors such as Pierre Boulez, Herbert von Karajan, and Daniel Barenboim.
- Larry Heintzer: American professional baseball player who played for four major league teams between 1967 and 1975.
- Rosemarie Heintzer: Austrian competitive figure skater who won several awards during her career, notably the Austrian National Liberty Skating Championship and an Olympic medal.
- Jeff Heintzelman: an American Olympic athlete and gold medalist in slalom kayak competition.
- Cindy Heintzer: a former UCLA girls' basketball coach, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
- Jochen Heintzer: a German lawyer and politician who has served as a member of the German Parliament and as an administrator of the European Broadcasting Union.
- Werner Heintzer: a former professional tennis player who won several titles including the French Open.
- Mariel Heintzberger: a German design sculptor and object artist whose works have been displayed in galleries and museums throughout Germany.
- Otto Heintziger: an Austrian composer who wrote music for various works including Das Leben der Anderen, The Threepenny Opera, and Rosenkavalier.