Surname Nitz - Meaning and Origin
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TITLE: 'Nitz' Unveiled: The iGENEA DNA Test's Impact on My Perception of Personal Identity and Heritage
The iGENEA DNA test took me on an intriguing journey of self-discovery and altered my perspective on personal identity and heritage. It revealed ‘Nitz’, a surname in my lineage and represented a broader narrative of my ancestry that I was previously oblivious to.
P. Nitz
read moreNitz: What does the surname Nitz mean?
The surname Nitz is of German origin and is likely derived from the given name Niti, which is derived from the name Nikolaus. As a surname, it is an occupational name for a smallholder or tenant farmer who worked on land that was part of a larger estate. The name is derived from the German words "nit" meaning "little," and "ahe" meaning "field," so the name literally translates to "field farmer."
Nitz is an uncommon name on a global basis, but it is a fairly common surname in Germany, particularly in the state of Bavaria. It is most commonly found in and around the towns of Freystadt, Schnackenburg, and Eichelhardt.
The name became popularized in other countries as immigrant families from Germany moved around. In the U.S., one of the earliest records of the name were the Nitzsens who migrated to Baltimore in 1848.
Overall, the last name Nitz originates from Germany as an occupational name for smallholders or tenant farmers, and has spread to other countries from there.
Order DNA origin analysisNitz: Where does the name Nitz come from?
Nitz is a German surname that can be found in various parts of the world. It is most commonly found in Germany, where it is most likely to have originated, due to its evident Germanic roots. However, it is also prevalent in other countries descended from German immigrants, such as the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina, as well as other parts of Europe, such as the Czech Republic, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also found in Israel, as many Ashkenazi Jews adopted German surnames when immigrating from Eastern Europe.
The number of Nitz families with this name living in Germany today is relatively small - less than 5,000 in total, according to the most recent available data. This is likely due to the large numbers of German immigrants who left the country in the 18th and 19th centuries. The name is also most common in the federal states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Hesse. In the United States, however, there are much larger numbers of Nitzes, with seven thousand individuals living in the country in 2019.
Nitz is an uncommon surname, but its popularity is expected to grow in the coming years. Its name is significantly more prevalent in some parts of the world than others, primarily due to historical immigration patterns, but also due to the modern global context, where many ethnicities are becoming increasingly intermixed.
Variations of the surname Nitz
Nitz is an old-fashioned surname with some distinction to be found in many parts of the world. In Germany, this family name is most commonly found in the states of Brandenburg and Thuringia.
Variations of Nitz include Nitze, Nitzey, Nitzsch, Nitzsche, Nitsche, Nitscher, Nitch, Nitsche, and Nitzey. In Austria, this surname is spelled Nitsche and sometimes Nitscher.
In the United States, Nitz is recorded as early as 1715. In the US, the spelling has changed over time, especially due to the sound, as heard in the hands of a native speaker. Notz, Nitz and Nitzsche are some of the more common variant spellings found in America.
Upon the immigration of Nitz family members to other countries, the Nitz surname has often been transcribed in the sound-alike forms Neitz, Nites, Nettz, Netzsch and even Nuits. In Spain, Nitz was often Anglicized to the name Nights.
Due to different forms of German and Slavic languages, a similar surname is Nitsz. Some Jews have adopted Larson, Larsson, and Larsen as Anglicized forms of Nitz.
The Nitz surname is believed to come from the old German word “nitschen”, which means to bite, and is likely a reference to either a person who was always biting his nails, or a person who was a hunter.
Famous people with the name Nitz
- Kirsten Nitz: American singer, songwriter, and "artist puttering around in all kinds of media".
- Richard Nitz: German cookbook author, restaurateur, and culinary consultant.
- Liz Nitz: American journalist, blogger, and television producer.
- Isaac Nitz: American rock guitarist and composer, known for his work with Jeff Beck, Muse, and The Prodigy.
- Peter Nitz: German classical composer and conductor.
- Dieter Nitz: Former German football player and coach.
- Mike Nitz: Former German professional basketball player.
- Sandra Nitz: German visual artist and photographer.
- Robert Nitz: German cartoonist, animator, and illustrator.
- Inge Nitz: German opera singer.