Show ContentsPrinz History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Prinz family

The surname Prinz was first found in Silesia, where the family became noted for its many branches within the region. Some houses of the name even acquired status and influence which rivaled that of the landed aristocracy. In their later history some branches were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they distinguished themselves through their contributions to the social, political, and economic developments of the nation. Like many surnames, the name Prinz began as a nickname, from the German "prinz," meaning "prince." The nickname may have been given to one who had a princely demeanor, or it may have been an honorary "title" won in some contest of skill.

Early History of the Prinz family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Prinz research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1592, 1641, 1643, 1653, 1663, 1664 and 1717 are included under the topic Early Prinz History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Prinz Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Printz, Prinz, Prinsze and others.

Early Notables of the Prinz family

Notables of the period with the surname Prinz were

  • Baron Prinz de Buchau...

Prinz Ranking

In the United States, the name Prinz is the 15,077th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Prinz migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Prinz Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Andres Prinz, who landed in Mississippi in 1845 2
  • Joh Bernh Prinz, who landed in America in 1846 2
  • Nikolaus Prinz, who arrived in Brazil in 1847 2
  • John Prinz, aged 31, who landed in Missouri in 1848 2
  • Ferdinand Prinz, aged 25, who arrived in New York, NY in 1850 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Prinz (post 1700) +

  • Rosemary Prinz (b. 1931), American actress in the early era of the American soap opera
  • Bret Randolph Prinz (b. 1977), American Major League Baseball relief pitcher
  • Kurt Prinz (1920-2009), highly decorated German Major der Reserve in the Wehrmacht during World War II
  • Frédéric Prinz (1943-2010), German-born socialite best known as Zsa Zsa Gabor 's husband
  • Joachim Prinz (1902-1988), German rabbi who was outspoken against Nazism
  • Birgit Prinz (b. 1977), German international football player
  • Alfred Prinz (b. 1930), Austrian composer, clarinetist, and music educator
  • Andy Prinz, Swiss musician and record producer
  • Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld, German fighter pilot and flying ace in the Luftwaffe, during World War II, credited with 51 aerial victories, awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
  • Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, German fighter pilot and flying ace in the Luftwaffe, during World War II, credited with 83 aerial victories, awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross


  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)


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