Surname Weltsch - Meaning and Origin
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Weltsch: What does the surname Weltsch mean?
The last name Weltsch is of German origin and dates back to at least the 17th century. It derived from the Middle High German term weltz, meaning “foreign” or “alien,” and typically referred to someone who was not native to the area in which they settled. Over time, the family name spread from Germany to Austria, Poland, and eventually to other countries including the United States.
The name Weltsch is associated with families who were often wealthy merchants, landowners, and professional occupations. It was also quite common in some areas for individuals to add the “sch” ending to the name as a way to denote social standing.
Today, the name Weltsch is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and the United States. It is a quite common surname in all three countries and denotes proud and productive families. Those with the name Weltsch are generally highly respected and valued members of their communities.
Order DNA origin analysisWeltsch: Where does the name Weltsch come from?
The last name Weltsch is most common in countries in Central and Eastern Europe including Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, and Czech Republic. There are a few Weltsch families scattered around in South America, United States, and Canada.
The surname Weltsch has Jewish origins, likely originating from the Hebrew word ‘weltz’ which means 'refuge' or 'stranger'. Jews are believed to have come to Austria in the 13th century which is when the surname began to spread throughout Central and Eastern Europe.
The Weltsch family has a fairly rich history, having provided members of many notable Jewish communities in Europe, participating in religious, political, and cultural life. Most notably, philosopher and educationalist Felix Weltsch helped to rebuild philosophical life in Prague in the 19th century, and even founded the journal "Beitrage zur juedischen Geschichte und Literatur".
Smaller family branch lines are located in less commonly known locations, such as the Carpathian mountains in Romania, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. The oldest Weltsch family line is believed to be located in Sechnitz, Austria, originating roughly 400 years ago.
Today, Weltsch is a fairly uncommon last name in the United States but can still be found in predominately Jewish communities. International records suggest that there are over 18,000 individuals with the last name in various parts of Europe and the US.
Variations of the surname Weltsch
Weltsch is a common Ashkenazic Jewish surname of German origin, derived from the Biblical place name Welschland (Ancient Hebrew G'vul ’im). It means ‘outsiders’ and was used to describe individuals who lived outside of the Jewish community. The most common variants of this surname include Welz, Weltz, Welts, Weltzsch, Weltsch, Weltssch, Weltss, Weltz, and Welcz.
The surname Weltsch appears in Eastern and Central European records from the 1700s. It is most common in Germany, Austria, and Hungary. In the United States, the most common spelling is Weltz, and individuals bearing this name can be found in many parts of the country. Other forms of the surname Weltsch can also be found in North America, particularly in Canada and the United States.
The surname Weltsch is also spelled Weletz, Weletzch, Welzsch, Weletzh, Wilcz, Wilcche, Wiltsche, Wiltsh, Weltshsch, Wiltshsh, and Welz. Other similar spellings of the surname include Wilczek, Wilesch, Viljak, Wilschky, Welzs, and Welsch.
The surname Weltsch appears to be related to similar surnames including Welsch, Wellesch, Weisch, and Welisch, though these are distinct surnames that appear to have evolved independently of each other.
In conclusion, the surname Weltsch has many spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin. Common variants of this surname include Welz, Weltz, Welts, Weltzsch, Weltsch, Weltssch, Weltss, Weltz, and Welcz. Other forms of the surname include Weletz, Weletzch, Welzsch, Weletzh, Wilcz, Wilcche, Wiltsche, Wiltsh, Weltshsch, Wiltshsh, and Welz. It is also related to surnames including Welsch, Wellesch, Weisch, and Welisch.
Famous people with the name Weltsch
- Lea Weltsch: Actress and model from Israel
- Martin Weltsch: Austrian composer
- Paul Weltsch: Austrian neurologist
- Richard Weltsch: German-Jewish librarian and bibliographer
- Robert Weltsch: Czech-born German journalist
- Ruth Weltsch: Czech-born German journalist
- Tamar Weltsch: Israeli model and actress