Surname Althainz - Meaning and Origin
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Althainz: What does the surname Althainz mean?
The last name Althainz is derived from the Germanic word for “All the Heinzes”, with the original spelling being Alte Heinz (Old Heinz). This indicates that the original bearer of this surname was the ancestral head, or elder, of the Heinz family line. This may have been a title of honor originally, or it may have indicated the family’s fortunate financial success – land ownership and high earning professions.
This surname is most commonly found in Austria, Germany, and countries that were formerly governed by the Habsburg Empire. Those with the name Althainz are likely to be of Germanic or Austrian heritage, although it has gained up-take in other countries as well.
The core of this surname’s meaning is its reference to the ‘all’ or ‘all-encompassing’ nature of the aforementioned ‘Heinz’ family. This implies strength in numbers, although those that bear the name may or may not be related to the original ‘Heinz’ family. The descendants of this first family may have grown to be part of a larger clan or extended family, and thus the name was born.
In summary, the surname Althainz is connected to the Germanic word meaning “All the Heinzes”, indicating the ancestral head or elder of the Heinz family, and is most commonly found in Austria, Germany and other countries formerly ruled by the Habsburg Empire. The name itself implies strength in numbers and encompasses a larger extended family, which may or may not include the original ‘Heinz’ family.
Order DNA origin analysisAlthainz: Where does the name Althainz come from?
The last name Althainz is linked to the Germanic tribe of the Alamanni, originating in a region encompassing modern western Switzerland, France, Germany, and the Czech Republic. However, today the surname is associated mostly to German-speaking regions.
In Germany, Althainz is commonly found in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Hesse. This is likely due to the large number of German immigrants from these areas of Europe who settled in countries around the world, like the United States or Brazil, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In Switzerland, Althainz is commonly found in the cantons of St. Gallen, Thurgau, and Zurich. This can be attributed to the nationwide records keeping that began in the 13th century in Switzerland that encouraged the proliferation of surnames.
In Austria, the Althainz surname is most frequent in the states of Vienna, Carinthia, and Upper Austria. Similarly, in Liechtenstein, Althainz is found mainly in the states of Schaan, Eschen, and Vaduz.
Althainz is also present in certain parts of France, but to a lesser degree considering the country's Germanic roots. Althainz is most common in the regions of Grand Est, Rhône-Alpes, and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
Overall, Althainz is a surname rooted in Germanic heritage, and today it is mainly found in German-speaking countries, particularly within areas that have a long history of Germanic settlement.
Variations of the surname Althainz
The surname Althainz has various variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Althanz, Athanz, Allthaus, Altnau, Althanack, Althaus, Althausen, Allthofen, Athanack, Althauer, Alaing, Althoff, Alton, Altyn and Ellthaus.
The spelling Althaus is also commonly used. It is a German or South German surname and derived from the German word 'Althaus'. The literal meaning of this name is either old houses or houses of older age.
The surnames Allthofen, Althoff, and Altyn are derived from Althofen, which once stood for a homestead on high ground or an old courtyard. The surname Althanz comes from the Middle High German word ‘Althasse’, with the meaning of low meadow or valley. The surname Athanz is a variant of Althanz with slightly altered spelling of the suffix '-thausen'.
Athanack is also a variant of Althanz, but with the suffix '-nack'. The surnames Althaney, Althann, Althan and Althans share the same origin and derive from the German word 'Althans', which literally translates to noble or aristocratic.
The German surnames Althien and Ellthaus are also derived from the Althainz, with the suffix '-ien' translating to a patronymic meaning 'son of Althainz.'
Another popular spelling of Althainz is Alton, which is derived from the Middle High German word 'alte', meaning elder or old. The surname Althauer is derived from the German word 'Althau', which means the 'meadow of the old'.
Finally, the surname Alaing is derived from the Dutch word 'Aalaert', meaning noble or old. All in all, the surname Althainz has various variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Althainz
- Viola Althainz: She is an Austrian alpine skier and Olympic skier, who competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics.
- Petra Althainz: She is a Danish footballer who played for Danish Women's National Team from 1978 to 1998.
- Sabine Althainz: She is a German actress known for her roles in numerous television series, films, and plays.
- Christine Althainz: She is a German terrorist who was convicted for her activities in the 1970s as a member of the Red Army Faction.
- Peter Althainz: He is a Swiss composer, conductor and music producer best known for his film scores.
- Markus Althainz: He is a Swiss politician who was elected to the National Council in 2011.
- Robert Althainz: He is a Swiss entrepreneur and venture capitalist who is best known for his work in the internet-of-things arena.
- Sandra Althainz: She is a Swiss ski jumper who competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics.
- Thomas Althainz: He is a German professor and philosopher, and author of several books about the topics of communication and language.
- Johannes Althainz: He is a Swiss economist and author, best known for his work on the economics of innovation and the regulation of financial markets.