Surname Martinschitz - Meaning and Origin

Martinschitz: What does the surname Martinschitz mean?

The last name Martinschitz is of German origin. It is derived from the German word “Martinscheit”, a variant of the word “Marchscheit”, which means “sharp edge” or “blade". The name is most likely associated with the German term “Märkische”, which refers to a geographical region or market.

People with the last name Martinschitz originally lived in the German region of Märkische, located near the former East German border. Today, this area is part of the municipalities of Südbrookmerland, Friesland, and Ostfriesland.

Those with the Martinschitz surname may have once worked as blacksmiths, as the sharp-edged blade refers to forging metal with a knife or chisel. It is possible that the people named Martinschitz were known for their skill and good reputations when it came to sharpening and crafting blades. Additionally, the word “martsch” is derived from the Old High German word “mark”, which means “border”, and may indicate that people with this name were seen as those who monitored and protected a border or territory.

The Martinschitz surname has now spread beyond Märkische and is found across Germany as well as in other countries such as the United States and Canada. Individuals with this name still maintain a strong connection to their German heritage and are proud to be associated with the German culture and history.

Martinschitz: Where does the name Martinschitz come from?

The last name Martinschitz is a surname that is most commonly found in Central and Eastern Europe, primarily in the German and Austrian regions. Specifically, it is mainly located in Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Switzerland. It is also scattered throughout smaller regions in these countries, such as the islands of the Carinthian Sea and the valleys of Bohemia-Moravia, as well as other regions of the Mediterranean.

In Germany, Martinschitz is mostly located in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg, and the northern parts of the former East Germany, respectively.

In Austria, the surname is most commonly found in Salzburg and Vienna, with smaller pockets in some of the surrounding states.

In the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Croatia, the surname is also quite prevalent, but its presence is much more localized.

In Switzerland, it is found with a bit more variation in comparison to other Central and Eastern European regions, with small groups in scattered cantons as well as French-speaking Valais and Ticino.

In all, the surname Martinschitz remains concentrated in Central and Eastern Europe, as it has been for many centuries. Despite small crossovers due to relocation, culture and global interconnectivity, its presence still remains quite rooted within the countries and regions of its origin.

Variations of the surname Martinschitz

The surname Martinschitz is of Austrian origin and its variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Martschink, Martschenk, Martincic, Martischitz, Martischitz, Marčič, Martinzic, Martinčič, and Martinschics.

Martinschitz is a predominantly Austrian name, recorded since the 1700s in several parts of Austria. Generally, this surname originates from the German surname Martinitz, which is derived from the given name “Martin”, which means “warrior of Mars” in Latin. In some cases, the surname came from individuals from the villages of Martinz and Martinispitz, situated in Upper Austria.

The two main variants of this surname are Martschink, descended from the Upper Austrian variant of the Martinitz surname, and Martinchic, descended from the Carinthian variant. Some variants of the Martinitz surname are Martinzic and Martschenk, the latter of which is a combination of the Middle High German words “mart” (which means “war”) and “schenke” (which means “pub”) that’s sometimes found used as a first name.

Meanwhile, Martischitz is an Slovene variant of the Martinitz surname, derived from the German given name “Martin” and the Slavic “iti”, which means “dwell”. Other Slovene variants include Marčič and Marčič. The variant Martinschics is a Germanized version of the Slovene Marčič or Martischitz surname.

Overall, any of these variants, spellings and surnames can be traced back to the root surname Martinschitz, and many of them also derive from the given name “Martin”, which always refers to the same origin.

Famous people with the name Martinschitz

• Byron Martinschitz: former title holder of the South African Winemakers Championship.
• Maria Martinschitz: Austrian singer-songwriter, TV personality and occasional actress.
• Peter Martinschitz: Former President of the Austrian hockey team in the World Championship Division I.
• Henry Martinschitz: Austrian painter, graphic artist, sculptor, and graphic designer.
• Sean Martinschitz: Former defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League (NFL).
• Jan Martinschitz: Retired Austrian badminton player who won the European Championship in 1990.
• Karin Martinschitz: Austrian alpine ski racer who competed in the Winter Olympics in 1992 and 1994.
• Günther Martinschitz: Former Austrian actor best known for his work in the television series “Vision File”.
• Doris Martinschitz: Former Austrian politician who served as a Member of Parliament and as Minister of Agriculture.
• Max Martinschitz: Former Austrian chess player and President of the Vienna Chess Federation.

Other surnames

Martinschek