Spitz
A short surname from German meaning “pointed” or “sharp,” likely first used as a nickname.
The #9,298 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 88,213 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Spitz comes from German and related Dutch forms meaning “pointed,” “sharp,” or “pointed end.” As a surname, it was most likely first given as a nickname for someone with a pointed feature, sharp manner, or some other “pointed” association. The same root appears in words like German Spitz and Dutch spits, both tied to the idea of a point or peak.
History
The surname is found in German-speaking areas and also appears in Dutch and other northern European records in similar forms. In English-language sources, it is sometimes noted alongside related names built from the same “spike/point” idea. The name is also familiar from the dog-breed term spitz, which helped keep the word recognizable outside surname use.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The surname shares its core word with the dog-breed term spitz, originally referring to a pointed muzzle or ears.
From the historical record
“Speight. A.S. Spieta ; Old G. Spiz; G. Spiess (spear); S. Spethz, Spitz ; D. Speich ; Dch. Spigt ; FI. Specht ; p.n. Speller, Spells. FI., Dch. Spel¬ lers ; a p.n. (speaker)”
— British Family Names: their origin and meaning (2nd ed.)Notable people named Spitz
- Mark Spitz (b. 1950)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.