Surname Spitze - Meaning and Origin
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Spitze: What does the surname Spitze mean?
The German-language surname Spitze is a surname derived from the Middle High German verb spitzen, which meant “to sharpen” or “to point.” It is likely that the name was originally an occupational surname for someone who sharpened knives, tools, etc., or was involved in making pointed weapons or tools. Alternatively, it may have been a nickname for someone with a sharp wit or sharp features.
The name Spitze is found predominantly in Germany but is also common in Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Outside of Europe, it is most commonly found in the United States and Canada, where it was brought by German immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Notable bearers of the name today include German cross-country skier Anke Spitze and American baseball player Codi Spitze.
Spitze is a surname which speaks of sharpness and skill, values which are often associated with the German character. This surname is a reminder of the hardworking nature of the many German emigrants of the past and their contributions to the world we know today.
Order DNA origin analysisSpitze: Where does the name Spitze come from?
The last name Spitze is most common in Germany today. While it is still found in some other parts of Europe, this German family name has become closely associated with the country.
The first record of the name dates back to 1150, when a man named Spitze was recorded as living in the area. Since then, it is believed that the Spitze family has been a fixture in Germany for centuries, although the spelling of the name would have changed over time.
The highest concentration of the Spitze family in Germany is in Baden-Württemberg, which is located in the southwestern part of the country. This large state in the shadow of the Alps has a long history and is home to many unique traditions. Here, the Spitze family name is still quite common and recognizable.
It is likely that the family emigrated from their homeland to other places, including the United States. There are records of the Spitze family living in the United States beginning in the mid-1800s. Today, there are descendants of the family in various parts of the world, but the highest concentration of the name remains back in their ancestral home in Germany.
Variations of the surname Spitze
The surname Spitze is an attribute name of German origin that was first found in Franconia and Rhineland-Palatinate, where it was adopted in the Middle Ages by someone who had a pointed or sharp pointed appearance. The variants and spellings of the surname Spitze includes Spitz, Spits, Spitzes, Spitzen, Spitzel, Spitser, Spitse, Spitser, Spitzendorf, Spitzhauer, Spitzhorn, and Spitzner.
The surname Spitze was initially an occupation-related name, deriving from the German verb ‘spitzen’ meaning ‘to sharpen’. Someone with this surname would have been someone who made or sharpened tools or weapons, or worked as an arrowsmith or arrow maker. It is also possible that the surname was applied to someone with an especially sharp or pointed nose or chin.
Variations of the surname Spitze were also found in Austria, where they adopted surnames ending with -spitzer, and in the former Czech lands of Bohemia and Moravia, where they adopted the surnames Spitzer and Spitz.
During the 18th century, members of the Spitze family emigrated to other countries, particularly to the United States and Canada. As a result, other surnames evolved in various areas of North America – Spitzer and Spitz in the US, Spits in Canada, and Spitser and Spitzner in Pennsylvania.
Some members of the Spitze family also settled in Israel, where the surname has evolved into Spitser.
Overall, the surname Spitze has become common in many countries around the world, each with their own set of variations and spellings.
Famous people with the name Spitze
- Ray Spitze: an American collegiate football player who played in the NCAA
- Christian Friedrich Spitze: a German theologian, professor, and author
- Chris Spitze: a retired Major League Soccer (MLS) soccer player
- Arthur Siegmund von Spitze: a Prussian military leader
- Antonin Spitze: a Czech painter, sculptor, and illustrator
- Ashley Spitze: an American actress
- Günter Spitze: a German amateur astronomer
- Svein Spitze: a Norwegian footballer
- Christian Spitze: a German-Danish television presenter and producer
- Daniel Spitze: a German railway entrepreneur