Härtz History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Israel

The ancestral home of the Härtz family is in the German province of Bavaria. Härtz is a German nickname surname. Such names came from eke-names, or added names, that described their initial bearer through reference to a physical characteristic or other attribute. It is a name for a kindhearted or stalwart individual, and is derived from the German word herz, which means heart.

Early Origins of the Härtz family

The surname Härtz was first found in Bavaria, where this family made important contributions toward the development of this district from ancient times. Always prominent in social and political affairs, the family formed alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation. Individual bearers of this name first mentioned in ancient chronicles include Martin Hercz, who lived in the Bohemian town of Iglau around the year 1383.

Early History of the Härtz family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Härtz research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1803, 1835, 1888 and 1902 are included under the topic Early Härtz History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Härtz Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Härtz include Hertz, Hertze, Herttz, Herttze, Herz, Herze, Herzz, Herzze, Haertz, Haerz, Herts and many more.

Early Notables of the Härtz family

Prominent among members of the name Härtz in this period include Henri Herz (1803-1888), who was a German pianist and composer. A celebrated concert pianist, he also founded his...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Härtz Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Härtz Ranking

In the United States, the name Härtz is the 8,645^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Härtz migration to the United States +

Thousands of German settlers came to North America between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries. The hardships of the long voyage were balanced by the opportunity to escape poverty and religious persecution. The descendents of these settlers still populate the states of Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many also live in Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Härtz or a variant listed above:

Härtz Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johannes Hartz, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1749 2

Härtz Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Francis Hartz, who landed in Maryland in 1801 2
Mr. Conrad Von Hartz, from Germany who arrived in Galveston, Texas aboard the ship "Herschel" in 1844
Mrs. Johanne Hartz, (nee Urlaub) from Germany who arrived in Galveston, Texas aboard the ship "Herschel" in 1844
Eduard Hartz, who arrived in Texas in 1844 aboard the ship "Herschel" 2
Henry Hartz, who arrived in Somerset County, Pennsylvania in 1848 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Härtz (post 1700) +

James Leroy "Jim" Hartz (1940-2022), American television personality, columnist and reporter during the mid- and late-1970s, co-host of the Today Show, along with Barbara Walters (1974-1976)
Louis Hartz (1919-1986), American political scientist
Jim Hartz (b. 1940), American television personality, Today Show Host with Barbara Walters (1974–1976)
Harry Hartz (1896-1974), American auto mechanic and race car driver, inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1998
Harris L Hartz (b. 1947), American jurist, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (2001-)
Peter Hartz (b. 1941), German human resources executive at the German public company Volkswagen, eponym of the Hartz-reforms and the Hartz concept
Lauritz Hartz (1903-1987), Danish artist
Nikolaj Eeg Kruse Hartz (1867-1937), Danish geologist and botanist

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)