Surname Menze - Meaning and Origin

Menze: What does the surname Menze mean?

The last name Menze is of German origin and is thought to have originally come from the Middle High German term "menze" meaning "urinal." The name likely referred to those who maintained or serviced public urinals, such as in taverns or other popular gathering spots. It's unclear how the name came to be used as a surname, though some believe it likely referred to an occupational name. After all, if one was a professional urinal keeper, they would be known as the "Menze."

The name is relatively uncommon today, mainly found in German-speaking countries and throughout Europe. Research suggests that variants of the surname appeared in Germany as far back as the 1500s. Records of the surname have been found in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, along with other parts of Europe, such as Netherlands, Poland, and Czech Republic, indicating its global migratory patterns during the 16th and 17th centuries.

The spelling of the surname has usually remained constant, although over time various spellings and forms of Menze have appeared, such as Menz, Menzer, Menzinger, Menzhen, and Henze. Variations in the spelling can be attributed to clerical errors, regional accents, and other archaic factors that have shaped surnames over the centuries.

Menze has also found its way into the modern world, appearing as a popular German first name. Today it is likely to refer to someone with the surname Menze or their descendants, among many other names derived from the same root.

Menze: Where does the name Menze come from?

The last name Menze is of German origin and is most prevalent in Germany today. Some locations in Germany even have a street named Menze Strasse. The German state of Thuringia has a large concentration with records of the name dating back to the 16th century. The name can also be found in Poland, Austria, and Denmark.

Menze is also present in the United States. Many immigrants from Germany brought the name to the United States as early as the mid-1800s and the United States Census shows the name was first recorded in the 1890s. Although it is not common, the United States has seen a steady increase in the Menze surname, particularly in the states of Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.

The name Menze is also present in parts of Canada, particularly in the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. Much like the United States, records of the Menze family in Canada date as far back as the late 1800s.

Although the Menze surname is more commonly found in German-speaking countries, it is also scattered throughout other areas of the world. Many emigrated from Germany in search of a better life and have found their new homes in many different countries with the Menze name living on.

Variations of the surname Menze

The surname Menze is a German-origin name with variants including Mensch, Mensche, and Menzeh. It is a habitational surname, based on the name of places found in various locations in Germany. It is most commonly found as Menze or Mensche, but it also appears as Mensch, Menzeh, Menschke, Mensel, Mense, Menzel, Menzler, and Mensinger.

The meaning of the surname Menze is not completely clear, but it is likely based on the German word 'Mensch' which means a human being. The root of the word might also be derived from Middle High German 'mennizo', which is related to 'Mann' meaning man or manpower. The surname was most commonly found in the former East Prussia, and is particularly popular in the Rhineland region.

Variants of the name also exist in other countries such as Austria and Czechia. Smith and Kuefler (2013) suggested that the surname is a variant of the Czechian surname Machenska, which is associated with the Christmann family. Further research has revealed that the variation Machensky is derived from a German designation 'Munzke', which is a form of the personal name Matthaeus.

In addition to these variations, the name Menze is also an alternate spelling of the name Menzel, a family name that has its origins in the German language. This surname is derived from a word meaning 'miner' or 'minter', making it likely based on a location known for its mining or minting of coins. Menzel is also used as a given name, and has been found as a variation in many cultures.

Overall, the surname Menze is a German-origin name that appears in various forms and spellings throughout different countries in Europe. It is likely related to the German word 'Mensch', which means a human being, and is also linked to an occupational name that refers to mining or minting.

Famous people with the name Menze

• Halina Menze: Dr. Halina Menze is an Associate Professor in the Department of Informatics at the University of Bergen. She is also a researcher at the Department of Cybernetics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
• Walt Menze: Walt Menze is an American bass player, guitar player, and composer who had a long and successful career playing for bands like The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers.
• Ed Menze: Ed Menze is an athletics coach at the University of Arizona. He served as the head coach for the school’s men’s and women’s track and field program from 1982 to 1999.
• Mark Menze: Mark Menze is a former American soccer midfielder who played two seasons in Major League Soccer.
• Robert Menze: Robert Menze is an expert on public sector policy and governance with considerable experience in public management and reform. He has advised governments worldwide, from Chile to Korea, on issues related to public sector organization and performance.
• Heather Menze: Heather Menze is an award-winning printmaker and painter, focusing on rural representation and its beauty and culture. She was included on the 2020 Missouri Art Council's professional artist roster and was the 2018 recipient of the Missouri Arts Council Fellowship for Visual Arts.
• Abigail Menze: Abigail Menze is a British-American television writer and producer, known for her work on life-changing shows such as TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress”, MTV’s “Skins”, and the hit unscripted series “The Biggest Loser”.
• Johannes Menze: Johannes Menze is a professor of programming languages and software systems at the University of Trier in Germany. His research focuses on the design and development of concurrent programming languages, program analysis methods, and distributed software architectures.

Other surnames

MenzMenzelMenzeliusMenzenMenziesMenzlMenzlaffMenzlawMenzlinMenzlow