The name Liz is a diminutive form of the name Elizabeth, which has its roots in the Hebrew language. Elizabeth is derived from the Hebrew name Elisheva, meaning "God is my oath" or "consecrated to God." The earliest known references to the name Elizabeth can be found in the Bible, where it was the name of the wife of Aaron, the brother of Moses.

The name Elizabeth gained popularity during the Middle Ages, particularly in England and other parts of Europe. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Liz as a diminutive can be traced back to the 16th century. It was commonly used as a shortened version of Elizabeth, which was a popular name among the English nobility and royalty.

One of the most notable historical figures who bore the name Elizabeth was Elizabeth I, the Queen of England from 1558 to 1603. She was born in 1533 and is remembered as one of the most influential monarchs in English history, presiding over a golden age of exploration, literature, and cultural development.

Another famous Elizabeth was Elizabeth Woodville, born in 1437, who became the Queen of England as the wife of King Edward IV. She played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars fought between the Houses of Lancaster and York for the English throne.

In the realm of literature, Elizabeth Gaskell, born in 1810 and died in 1865, was a prominent English novelist and biographer. She is best known for her novels such as "Cranford" and "North and South," which depicted the social and industrial changes taking place in 19th-century England.

In the field of science, Elizabeth Blackwell, born in 1821 and died in 1910, was a pioneering figure. She became the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States and paved the way for women's involvement in the medical profession.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth Cady Stanton, born in 1815 and died in 1902, who was a leading figure in the early women's rights movement in the United States. She played a pivotal role in organizing the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, which was a landmark event in the fight for women's suffrage.