Surname Saeltzer - Meaning and Origin
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Saeltzer: What does the surname Saeltzer mean?
The last name Saeltzer is an occupational surname originating from Germany. It literally translates to “Salt Seller,” and was derived from the Middle High German word "saltzer", which in turn was derived from the Latin "salarium," or “salary,” and the Middle High German word "salzo," meaning “salt.”
In olden days, salt was a precious and expensive commodity in certain parts of the world. As salt was a major source of income and revenue for many regions in Europe, many traders and merchants, with the name of Saeltzer, made a living as salt peddlers and wholesalers.
In the Middle Ages, in certain areas of Northern Europe, it was believed that the name Saeltzer was derived from a special position given by feudal land owners to those who acted as salt merchants with their goods. At the time, these salt merchants were held in high regard, and their name was a sign of esteem and power.
The Saeltzer name has now spread across Europe and the United States, but the name still retains its original meaning. As a reminder of this ancient tradition, many modern Saeltzers use salt as the crest of their family coat of arms.
Overall, the last name Saeltzer is an occupational surname. It is derived from the Latin "salarium," and the Middle High German words "saltzer" and "salzo," and literally means “Salt Seller." It refers to those who made a living as salt peddlers, wholesalers, and merchants in the Middle Ages, and is still used as a reminder of this ancient tradition and profession.
Order DNA origin analysisSaeltzer: Where does the name Saeltzer come from?
The surname Saeltzer is most commonly found in the United States today. It is an Americanization of a German origin surname, and is said to be derived from an old German phrase meaning 'Salt Sower.'
The name is most prevalent in Pennsylvania, likely due to the large influx of German immigrants who settling in the state from the 17th to the 19th centuries. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were around 1,400 people with the surname living in Pennsylvania in the year 2000.
Saeltzer is also fairly common in Ohio, but is most commonly found in the midwestern to southeast states, with more than 650 individuals inhabiting these states.
Outside of the United States, there are large populations of the Saeltzer surname in Germany and the United Kingdom. In the UK, the name was more commonly found in Scotland and Ireland in the late 19th Century. In Germany, the Saeltzer surname is most common in the southern and western regions of the country.
Overall, the Saeltzer surname is relatively uncommon compared to other surnames in the U.S. and abroad, but there are still many individuals with this last name living in several countries throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Saeltzer
The surname Saeltzer is of German origin and is derived from a location in the Rhine region of Germany. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Saeltzer, Salzinger, Salzgeber, Salzeder, Salz, Seltzer, Zeltzer and Saetzler.
Saeltzer is an occupational surname derived from the Middle High German word “saltzer,” which means “salt merchant.” This occupational name was likely used to denote a person who sold or traded in salt, an important commodity centuries ago. This name is found in records from as far back as the late 1500s.
Variant spellings of the surname Saeltzer often occur in records. Alternate spellings of the surname could include, but are not limited to, Salzinger, Salzgeber, Salzeder, Salz, Seltzer, Zeltzer and Saetzler. In some cases, the surname was also changed to Seater or Seatz when immigrating to the United States or other countries.
It is also possible that the surname originated as an abbreviated form of any of a variety of German names beginning with the element “Salz” such as Salzberg, Salzman, Salzner, etc. Salz is the German word for “salt” so the origin is fairly clear.
Finally, it is possible that the surname Saeltzer was sometimes altered due to translation related issues when immigrating to other countries. In this case, some variants of the name may have included Sealts, Salter, Sall, Sieltzer, and Selz.
Famous people with the name Saeltzer
- Garrett Saeltzer, professional basketball player and educator.
- Dean Saeltzer, Major League Baseball player.
- Joey Saeltzer, college basketball player.
- Albert Saeltzer, football player.
- Benjamin Saeltzer, classical musician and composer.
- Johann Saeltzer, German physician.
- Hans Saeltzer, Swiss landscape painter.
- Johann Saeltzer, German landscape artist.
- Helga Saeltzer, German writer.
- Udo Saeltzer, German sprinter.
- May Saeltzer, American photographer and model.
- Johann Saeltzer, German author and illustrator.
- Sven Saeltzer, German footballer.
- Adam Saeltzer, American filmmaker.
- Henry Saeltzer, American pianist.
- David Saeltzer, American director and screenwriter.
- Paul Saeltzer, American architect.
- Marco Saeltzer, German skier.
- Joachim Saeltzer, German independent film director.
- Maja Saeltzer, German fashion designer.