Surname Holzer - Meaning and Origin
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Striking Gold with iGENEA DNA Test: Opening the Door to my Multifarious Holzer Heritage
Imagine my surprise when my iGENEA DNA revealed not only that my surname, Holzer, doesn’t trace back to one single ancestor but to several unrelated clusters across Europe. Originating in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, hailing from noble families to lumberjacks and farmers, discovering my Holzer lineage has been an absolute adventure.
D. Holzer
read moreHolzer: What does the surname Holzer mean?
The German surname Holzer is derived from the Middle High German word “holz”, meaning “wood” or “forest”. The surname likely refers to a family of woodcutters or foresters, or those who lived in a forested area. Alternatively, the name could refer to a family of tradesmen who sold wooden goods, such as carpenters or coopers.
Holzer is widespread in Germany, particularly in Bavaria and the Austrian regions of Tyrol and Salzburg. The surname can also be found in large numbers in the US, particularly in the midwestern and northeastern regions. In many cases, families with the surname Holzer emigrated to the US from Germany or Austria in the 1800s. In some cases, the spelling of the surname may have been altered slightly to fit American pronunciations, resulting in variants such as Haller and Hales.
Holzer may appear as a given name in some cases as well, either as an alternative to the surname, or bestowed in honour of a family member or ancestor. This occurs more often in cases where the family has practiced certain religious or cultural traditions that carry the surname.
Order DNA origin analysisHolzer: Where does the name Holzer come from?
The Holzer surname is most common in Germany, specifically around the area of North Rhine-Westphalia.
The name seems to originate from Middle High German, when it was spelled “holzære”. It’s thought that the name was given to people who lived in an area that was heavily forested.
The name is still most common in Germany today, though many people carrying the surname have emigrated elsewhere. In the United States, the name is most commonly found in the states of Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. It also appears in many places around the world, especially in Europe.
There is an estimated two thousand five hundred people in Germany today with Holzer as a last name. It is believed that the total number of people with this name living across the world is around twenty-five thousand.
Variations of the surname Holzer
The surname Holzer has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants include Holzner, Hulzer, Holdzer, Holczer, Holtser, Holser, Halzer, and Hulsner. These surnames can be found in the German-speaking countries of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. Holzer is often found with the associated prefix von, indicating noble or aristocratic heritage.
The common variations Holzner and Hulzer can be found in records dating back to the 15th century. These variants are found mainly in the Silesian and Bohemian regions of Austria and Germany. Holczer and Holtser both seem to have originated from Hungary, while Hulsner is a variant of Holzer found mainly in the Lusatian area of northern Germany.
Herlzor, Hallzer, Halzer, and Holser can all be found in records from the region of Baden-Württemberg in south-western Germany. These variants are thought to have developed in the 18th and 19th centuries, though their exact origin is unknown. Additionally, the Austrian variation of Holzer, Holzinger, has been found in records from the 19th and 20th centuries.
In general, the surname Holzer is thought to have originated in the region of Central Europe, and is thought to be derived from the German word “holz”, meaning “wood”, suggesting that the family may have been involved in the timber industry. The surname is most likely of occupational origin, and refers to a person who worked in this industry.
Famous people with the name Holzer
- Jenny Holzer: American contemporary artist
- Paul Holzer: American actor and producer
- Adolph Holzer: Austrian-American composer
- Ben Holzer: German footballer
- Friedrich Holzer: Austrian composer
- Tony Holzer: American filmmaker and actor
- Tom Holzer: Australian businessman
- Frances Holzer: American novelist
- Gérard Holzer: French bishop
- Wolfram Holzer: German composer and conductor