Surname Frantz - Meaning and Origin
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Unveiling the History and Origin of the Frantz Surname through DNA Testing
The fascinating journey into my family history, exploring the deep roots of my surname, Frantz, was initiated by my recent iGENEA DNA test. The results have provided intriguing insights into the social, cultural, and political scenarios my Frantz ancestors were part of from the Middle Ages onwards, in regions that span modern-day Germany and France.
T. Frantz
read moreFrantz: What does the surname Frantz mean?
The last name Frantz is of German origin. It is a habitational name derived from places named Franken from the Saxon word for Franconia, a region in the north of Bavaria. The name may have referred to someone who had migrated from that region.
Frantz is also an occupational name, most likely referring to a Franconian, or someone who worked in Frankonia or had specific skills such as an armorer or blacksmith, referring to those who fashioned arms from the iron from the mines of Franconia.
Frantz could also have been an occupational name for a shepherd, derived from the Middle High German terms vrantz or vranzeln which means to graze or to pasture. This would have been particularly common in the Middle Ages, when many German towns and municipalities had their own local herding regulations and laws and shepherd work.
In addition, the surname Frantz could be traced back to an occupation of a clothier or weaver, based on the Middle High German verb franzeln which translates to make or produce cloth.
People with the surname Frantz are likely to be descendants of people with these various occupations, or who lived in Franconia in the Middle Ages.
Order DNA origin analysisFrantz: Where does the name Frantz come from?
Frantz is a common surname found all over the world, but its most popular locations of origin and residence are Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. It is also concentrated in parts of the United States and Canada, as well as in Latin America, especially in Argentina, Chile, and Brazil.
The meaning of the name has been heavily debated over the years and is thought to be derived from the Late Middle High German “franz” meaning free. This name may have originally referred to people who had their bondage to a feudal lord terminated.
In Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, the name Frantz was at one point so popular that it was even listed as a top ten name in all three countries. Despite its popularity, it wasn’t until the 20th century that the name made its way to the United States. Today, it is most common in the Midwest and Rocky Mountain states.
Additionally, Frantz has several variants and alternate spellings which are found in various parts of the world, including France, Finland, Croatia, Sweden, Serbia, England, and even South Africa. It is readily found in the Eastern European countries as well, such as Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, and Romania.
People with the last name Frantz have a rich and diverse ancestry originating from all over the world, a testament to how far the name has spread throughout the centuries.
Variations of the surname Frantz
The surname Frantz is an anglicized version of the German name Franz. The original name is derived from the Latin Franciscus, meaning 'Frenchman'. Other variants of this surname include Franc, France, Frankel, Francz, Franchi, Franci, Franck, Francke, Franzmann, Frankenstein, and Franken. Spelling variations of Frantz may also include Fransz, Frantz, Francs, Franse, Francks, Francke, Francksen, Franssen, Frans, Franz, and Franzen.
The surname Frantz is common in many areas of Germany, particularly in the Rhinelandauer region, including Aachen, Cologne, and Bonn. It is also found in parts of Austria, such as Vienna, and in Switzerland, such as Zurich. This surname is also common among Mennonite populations in Eastern Europe.
There are various patronymic surnames derived from the Frantz surname, including François, Francony, Frantzen, Franzenburg, Francken, Franckel, Frantzhagen, Franzvogel, Francovich, Franczen, Frantzschke, Frantz twins, Frenz, Franzberg, and Frankenberg. These surnames are often derived from the original surname Frantz and were altered through the years due to phonetic variation, with some transformations being more noticeable than others. For example, the French form of Frantz is Franc, and the Polish form is Frankowicz.
In addition to these various forms of the Frantz surname, there are also some unrelated names that have become similar as a result of phonetic alteration or adoption of the name through generations. Such surnames include, Franzel, Franzi, Franzinger, Frankenberger, and Franzmair.
Famous people with the name Frantz
- David Frantz, American jazz drummer and singer
- Robert Frantz, American director and producer
- Harrison Frantz, American senior conservator at Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
- Jan Frantz, Swedish actress
- Kerry Frantz, American radio broadcaster
- Peter Frantz, American lawyer and a descendant of Nobel Laureate Raymond Frantz
- Thomas Frantz, German football player
- Bear Frantz, American actor
- Robert Frantz, American screenwriter and director
- Coreen Frantz, Canadian ice dancer
- George Frantz, Austrian Olympic water polo player
- F. Robert Frantz, American art collector, antiquarian, and philanthropist
- Jeffrey Frantz, American diplomat
- Matthew Frantz, American pianist, trombone and tuba player
- Spruce Frantz, American actor
- Sam Frantz, baseball player
- Dave Frantz, American composer and musician
- Raymond Frantz, Nobel Prize Winner for Medicinal Chemistry
- Derek Frantz, American bodybuilder
- Chuck Frantz, American basketball player
- Ramon Frantz, Uruguayan soccer player
- Natalie Frantz, American television host
- John Frantz, American sculptor
- Laura Frantz, American novelist
- Kristopher Frantz, American musician