HINZ
The Hinz surname is of German origin, traditionally recorded in a variety of spelling forms since medieval times.
One widely accepted derivation is patronymic, linking the name to the personal name Heinrich, which translates literally as ruler of the home or ruler of the household. In this sense the surname identified the descendants of an ancestor named Heinrich, and the form eventually became established as a distinct family name throughout German-speaking regions.
Another significant origin is occupational. The medieval German word hintze meaning shepherd is now believed to have given rise to the surname in Saxony shortly after the year 1100. This connection reflects the social role of the family’s ancestors, who were engaged in the care of flocks and exhibited traits such as steerage, loyalty and protective vigilance.
Throughout the centuries the name has been written in many variants. Common spellings include Hintz, Hinze, Hinzmann, Hince, Hintzsche, Hincke, Henze, Hintze, Hincker and Hintzey. In addition, the Russian variant Gints is used in Karelia, Mari El and Tver.
In European geography the surname is most dense in Germany, particularly in the northern and eastern states of Lower Saxony and Thuringia. It is also widely found in Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg. To a lesser extent it occurs in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belarus and Ukraine. In the United States the name is less frequent, ranking 15 084 out of 88 799, with the greatest concentrations in the Midwestern states of Wisconsin and Minnesota and a noticeable presence in Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. Canada hosts a smaller population, mainly in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. Outside of Europe the surname is reasonably common in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Taken together, the evidence suggests that Hinz is a surname of rich and varied heritage, rooted in both familial lineage and occupational tradition, and carried by communities across broad regions of the world.
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Hinz in...
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There are approximately 110 people named Hinz in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around two in a million people in Britain are named Hinz.
