Show ContentsHertz History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestral home of the Hertz family is in the German province of Bavaria. Hertz 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 Hertz family

The surname Hertz 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 Hertz family

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

Hertz Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Hertz include Hertz, Hertze, Herttz, Herttze, Herz, Herze, Herzz, Herzze, Haertz, Haerz, Herts and many more.

Early Notables of the Hertz family

Prominent among members of the name Hertz in this period include

  • Wilhelm Hertz (1835-1902), was a professor of German literature at the University of Munich and wrote lyric and epic poetry...

Hertz Ranking

In the United States, the name Hertz is the 8,475th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


Hertz migration to the United States +

Between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries, German settlers arrived in North America by the thousands. Persecution based on religion and poverty were great motivators in this large-scale migration. So too was the opportunity for tenant farmers to own their own land. Ample land and opportunity awaited the settlers who went to such states as Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California, as well as Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Hertz or a variant listed above:

Hertz Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Hans Martin Hertz, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1738 2
  • Casparus Hertz, who arrived in New York in 1746 2
  • Andreas Hertz, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 2
  • Ludwig Hertz, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753 2
  • Johannes Hertz, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1754 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hertz Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Abrah Hertz, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1800 2
  • Elias Hertz, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1803 2
  • Susman Hertz, aged 22, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1804 2
  • M. Hertz, who landed in New Orleans in 1823
  • Jacob Hertz, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1831 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hertz Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Athanasius Hertz, aged 32, who arrived in New York, NY in 1903 2
  • Christina Hertz, aged 25, who arrived in New York, NY in 1903 2
  • Monika Hertz, aged 1, who arrived in New York, NY in 1903 2
  • Maria Eva Hertz, aged 56, who landed in New York, NY in 1903 2
  • Mathias Hertz, aged 58, who arrived in New York, NY in 1903 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Hertz (post 1700) +

  • Heinrich Rudolf Hertz (1857-1894), German physicist who first conclusively proved the existence of the electromagnetic waves, eponym of "hertz", unit of frequency that measures cycle per second
  • John Daniel Hertz (1879-1961), born Schandor Herz, an American businessman, thoroughbred racehorse owner, and philanthropist, owner and eponym of the Hertz Corporation
  • Roy Hertz (1909-2002), American professor of pharmacology and of obstetrics and gynecology. His honors include the Cancer Research Award from the International College of Surgeons
  • William Hertz, American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Vienna, 1869-74 3
  • Ken Hertz, American politician, Mayor of Bellingham, Washington, 1976-82 3
  • Julian A. Hertz, American Republican politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from New York County 5th District, 1954 3
  • Hyman Hertz, American politician, Delegate to Texas Convention of 1832 from District of Nacogdoches, 1832 3
  • Howard Hertz, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from California 9th District, 1988 3
  • Gottlieb Hertz, American politician, Member of South Dakota State House of Representatives 4th District, 1935-36 3
  • Emanuel Hertz, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1912, 1916, 1932; Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 21st District, 1926 3
  • ... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. Douglas Grant Hertz, English 2nd Class passenger residing in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking by escaping in life boat 22 4


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  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, November 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  4. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/


Houseofnames.com on Facebook