Surname Foltz - Meaning and Origin
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iGENEA DNA Test: Unraveling the Threads of the Foltz Surname Saga
Getting a DNA test from iGENEA changed my perspective on my Foltz family line, not just as a surname but as a strand that weaves through the vast fabric of human history. It was an experience filled with various emotions, ultimately leaving me with a deeper sense of solidarity and connection.
B. Foltz
read moreFoltz: What does the surname Foltz mean?
The origin of the last name Foltz is German. In German, the surname Foltz is derived from the word “folt” or “felz” which means “tanned” or “tawny.” This could refer to a person who had a tanned or sun-kissed complexion, or it could make reference to one who worked or studied tanning leather or skins. The招聘会 name could also refer to a person who lived in a settlement near a ford or shallow crossing point on a river.
The Foltz surname first appears in records from the year 1361, when the Foltz family, which was based in Baden-Wurrtemberg, Germany, was first documented. Since that time, the Foltz surname has spread across Europe and beyond through migration and immigration.
In Europe, especially in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, many people named Foltz are found today. In the United States, the surname can be found in many states, having been brought over by later immigrants. Today, the surname pronounces the same in most areas: Foltz (with a short “o” and a nasal “z” sound). No matter where you find the name, it is derived from a rich and ancient European heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisFoltz: Where does the name Foltz come from?
The last name Foltz is most commonly found in the United States today. It is especially prevalent in Pennsylvania, with the highest concentration in the greater Pittsburgh area, according to a search on Ancestry.com. Outside of Pennsylvania, Foltz may be found in Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.
In terms of states with the highest frequency of the name Foltz, Pennsylvania is at the top. According to the same Ancestry.com search, a map of the United States marked with dots indicates the most prominent concentrations of the surname as being in the western half of the state of Pennsylvania, in an area that includes Erie, Pittsburgh, and surrounding cities. There are also several other smaller dots scattered across the map indicating more remote areas of the United States where the name Foltz is less common.
Internationally, Foltz is a rarer name. It is found in Canada and Australia, though to a much lesser extent than in the United States. It is also rarely seen in countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Norway, and Sweden.
Overall, the last name Foltz is most commonly found in the United States, especially in the greater Pittsburgh area of Pennsylvania. Outside of the United States, Foltz is much less common, though it can still be found in Canada and Australia.
Variations of the surname Foltz
The surname Foltz is of German origin, derived from the old German word "foltso" or "voldso", which means ‘foolish’ or ‘giddy’. This surname is found throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other parts of Europe.
Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin as Foltz include Folz, Volz, Fults, Fultz, Foltzinger, Folts, Foltzman, Foltzberger, Foltzle, Foltzer, Fluetz, and Fols.
In Germany, some spellings may be divergent based on local dialects, such as Folz, Foeltz, or Voelz. The variants Volts and Folts are also found in Germany, but are not as common as Foltz. In the US, some variants are anglicised to Foltz, Foults or Fultz.
In Austria, the spelling Foltzer is common, along with Foltzter, Foltzner, Foltzmann, Foltzman, and Foltiger. In Switzerland, the spelling Foltisi is dominant, along with variants such as Foltsi, Foltsig, Voltsig, Foltshi, and Foltsich.
In other parts of Europe, such as Belgium, France, and The Netherlands, spellings such as Folts, Foults, Foltes, Foultez, Fultez, or Foltez are found. In Eastern European countries, such as Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic, the variants Foltz, Folts, or Volts may be encountered.
Famous people with the name Foltz
- Katherine Foltz: Professional Women’s Basketball player, 2002 wife of NFL Quarterback Aaron Rodgers
- Richard Foltz: Author and professor of American and African Religions at Concordia University
- Leonard Foltz: NASCAR driver who won in 1957 and 1958
- John E. Foltz: Civil War general from Ohio
- Michael Foltz: Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
- Maurice Foltz: Jazz trombonist and composer
- Lloyd Foltz: Gold Medalist in four-man bobsledding in the 1956 Olympic Games
- Ruth Foltz: Educator and first woman member of the faculty at Cedarville College, Ohio
- Bob Foltz: NFL Offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Rams
- Charles Foltz: 19th-century American politician, member of Ohio House of Representatives