Find out how popular the last name Woltz is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Woltz.

Woltz, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Woltz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Woltz in America

Woltz is the 25924th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Woltz surname appeared 948 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Woltz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Woltz to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Woltz

The surname Woltz has its origins in Central Europe, particularly in regions that are now part of Germany and Austria. The earliest recorded instances of the surname can be traced to Medieval German-speaking territories, around the 12th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old High German word "waltan," which means "to rule" or "to reign." An alternate interpretation connects it to "wald," meaning "forest," suggesting a geographical connection to woodland areas.

The Woltz surname is historically associated with the regions of Bavaria and Swabia in Germany. In early records, the name appears in various spellings, such as Woltz, Woltze, and Wolz. Manuscripts from the early 13th century provide some of the earliest written references. One notable appearance was in the Chronicon of the Monastery of St. Gall, dating back to around 1250, where a Heinrich Woltz was documented as a landowner.

Heinrich Woltz of Bavaria, born circa 1240, is among the earliest recorded individuals with this surname. He was noted in property documents and participated in local governmental councils. By the 14th century, the Woltz name had spread into neighboring Austria, with one of the earliest mentions being a Hans Woltz, born around 1325, who served as a merchant in Vienna and was recognized for his contributions to local trade.

Martin Woltz, born in 1453 in Swabia, was a notable figure in the late 15th century. He was a prominent goldsmith whose works are preserved in several German churches. His craftsmanship earned him a place in historical records, including a mention in the records of the Augsburg guilds around 1480. Martin's contributions to the ecclesiastical art scene reflect the surname's association with skilled artisanship.

In the 16th century, the Woltz family continued to rise in prominence. One significant figure was Johannes Woltz, born in 1522 in Strasbourg. He was a renowned theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation within the Holy Roman Empire. His theological works and correspondence with Martin Luther are preserved in the archives of several German universities.

By the 18th century, the surname Woltz had also been documented in legal and academic spheres. A notable instance is that of Wilhelm Woltz, born in 1745 in Berlin, who became a respected jurist. His legal treatises contributed to Prussian law, and his work was cited in various legal references of the period. Wilhelm's influence extended to educational reforms, marking the Woltz name as one of intellectual and legal significance.

Throughout history, the Woltz surname has been associated with a variety of professions, from landownership and craftsmanship to theology and law. The spread of the name across German-speaking regions and its appearances in historical records illustrate the diverse contributions of individuals bearing this surname to European heritage. Each mention in manuscripts and documents reflects a different facet of the surname's legacy, painting a vivid picture of its historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Woltz

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Woltz.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Woltz was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Woltz has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Woltz was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Woltz, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!