Surname Grütze - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Grütze: What does the surname Grütze mean?
The last name Grütze is a German surname. It originated in the Middle Ages and was used to indicate a person who had grown or sold grain products, or who was from a village or region where grain products such as oats, rye, and wheat were cultivated. It is derived from the Old Germanic word "grut" or "grioz" which means grits, groats or grain in general.
The name Grütze is most common in the northern and eastern parts of Germany, especially in the rural area of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It is also common in the countries Hungary, Switzerland, Denmark, Poland, and the Netherlands.
In modern times, Grütze is most often a surname omitted from generations of German immigrant families in the United States, either through loss of documents in Ellis Island or because families changed their name after moving to America.
In terms of its etymology, Grütze comes from the Middle High German word grütze meaning 'grains', as well as the Middle Low German word grut or grit meaning 'gritty soil'. Grütze was likely used as an occupational surname initially to distinguish people who dealt or farmed with grains from others. In simpler terms, Grütze means "grain", and is thought to be related to the English word gruel.
Today, the name Grütze is still quite common in Central and Eastern Europe, and is often used by people of German heritage. In the United States, the name may sometimes be modified to "Gruetzner" or "Gruter" or "Gruthers". Many people in Germany, however, still use the original spelling.
Order DNA origin analysisGrütze: Where does the name Grütze come from?
The last name Grütze is most commonly found in Northern, Eastern and Central Germany. Although the surname is mostly concentrated in Germany, it can be found throughout Europe, particularly Scandinavia.
The earliest documented record of the surname Grütze dates back to 1486 in Wittenberg, Germany. It is believed to have originated from the region of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
In the 14th and 15th centuries, Grütze was commonly a nickname used to describe people who were short and stout. It can also be derived from the Old High German term gurz, which means porridge.
Today, there are approximately 7,000 people carrying the Grütze surname in Germany. Most of them are concentrated in the eastern and central German states, Speyer, Mannheim and Mainz, as well as in the German states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Hesse.
The surname is also found in Holland, Denmark, Austria and Switzerland. It has also been established in the United States and Canada since the late 1800s, due to immigration from Germany.
In Germany, the Grütze family members who are still living today are largely concentrated in the state of Thuringen, in the counties of Gotha, Jena and Weimarer.
Variations of the surname Grütze
The surname Grütze is predominantly derived from Germany and has a number of variants, spellings and surnames from the same source.
Grutze is a popular variant of the surname Grütze, and is as prevalent as the original spelling. Grute is a less common spelling of Grütze which is found mainly in Poland. Gruetzener and Gruetz are two other variants of Grütze which can be found across Eastern Europe.
The Polish variants of Grütze include Grupczynski, Grudz, Grupczynski, Grudzinski, Grupa and Grutski, while the Ukrainian versions are Gurtman and Gurgenskiy.
In addition to the origin Grütze, the surname Grütze is also derived from the Middle High German 'gruȥz'. As a result, other variants and surnames from this source are Griff, Groff, Gruetz, Griff, Gruff and Grueff.
Additionally, the surname Grütze is related to the German word 'grütze' which means grit, so other variants of the surname from this source include Grutz, Gritzer, Grutzner, Grutzer and Grutzmacher.
Finally, both Grutz and Gritz also have variants such as Greutel, Kreutz and Grerl, respectively.
In conclusion, the surname Grütze has a wide range of variants, spellings and surnames from the same origin. These variants and their associated spellings stem from German, Polish, Ukrainian and Middle High German roots, with each language having its distinct surnames.
Famous people with the name Grütze
- Tina Grütze: She is a German reporter and television presenter.
- Hermann Grütze: He was a German entrepreneur and businessman who founded the Grütze chain of stores.
- Eugen Gruetze: He was a professional basketball player who played for the German national team from 1968 to 1972.
- Joachim Grütze: He was a German painter known for his landscapes and portraits.
- Herbert Grütze: He was a German musicologist, author, and professor of musicology at the University of Berlin from 1963 until his retirement in 1995.
- Elisabeth Grütze: She is a Swiss painter known for her whimsical paintings.
- Günther Grütze: He was an East German wrestler who competed in the 1972 Olympics.
- Maria Grütze: She is a German pianist and composer known for her works for piano and chamber music.
- Klaus Grütze: He was a German writer, author, and publisher who wrote numerous works on German history.
- Birgit Grütze: She is a German visual artist known for her sculptures and installations.