Show ContentsArts History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Arts surname comes from the Middle High German word "arzet," which meant "a physician." It came into being as a family name in the 1300s, and was generally taken on not by full-time doctors, but by someone who practiced the healing arts.

Early Origins of the Arts family

The surname Arts was first found in Tyrol, where the name Arz became noted for its many branches with the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. Over time, the family became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility.

Early History of the Arts family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Arts research. Another 100 words (7 lines of text) covering the year 1648 is included under the topic Early Arts History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Arts Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Arz, Arzt, Arze, Arzz, Arzio, Arzze, Arzzio and others.

Early Notables of the Arts family

More information is included under the topic Early Arts Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Arts Ranking

In Netherlands, the name Arts is the 148th most popular surname with an estimated 7,521 people with that name. 1


United States Arts migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Arts Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Jo Arts, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 2
  • John Arts, who arrived in Maryland in 1674 2
Arts Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Arts, aged 35, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 2
  • Johannes Arts, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1732 2
  • Jacob Arts, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1762 2

Canada Arts migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Arts Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Margereta Arts, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757

Contemporary Notables of the name Arts (post 1700) +

  • Joseph Clemence Arts (1878-1935), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Iowa, 1912 3


  1. "Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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