PELTZ
The surname Peltz originates from Germanic linguistic roots. It is derived from the Middle High German word peltz, meaning “fur” or “peltry”. As a result, it is an occupational surname, traditionally assigned to individuals engaged in activities involving fur, such as furriers, fur traders or other professionals in the fur industry. The name may also have been applied as a nickname to a person whose appearance was notably furry or hairy.
In Dutch and German contexts the surname has been recorded as an occupational identifier for a “maker of pilches” – a leather garment comparable to a modern sheepskin coat. The term ultimately derives from the Latin pellicia, which denotes a skin or hide. The English equivalent of the surname is Pilcher, and the name has Kentish origins. Regional variants in German include Peltzer, Beltzner, Pelz and Belz, whereas the sole Dutch original spelling is Pelser. Historic heraldic records cite the name as Pelser of Berensberg at Aix la Chappelle in Aachen, and as Pelzer of Cologne, the coat of arms depicting a silver sheep on a black field.
In England the surname has appeared in several spellings such as Palser, Pelser, Pelzer, Pallsher and Palsoe. Historical documents suggest possible Huguenot connections. The earliest documented instance of the name in England is that of Thomas Palsar, mentioned on 18 July 1628 as a witness at St. Katherines by the Wardrobe in London during the reign of King Charles I.
Within the Jewish tradition, particularly among Ashkenazi communities, Peltz is a recognised occupational surname. It originates from the Middle High German word for felt, as Jewish families often were involved in the production of felted woolen items such as hats and coats. In German Jewish contexts the name may have also denoted a furrier—someone who manufactured or sold fur clothing. Jewish migration from Eastern Europe into Germany provided many bearers of the name, who established small businesses and later expanded into larger commercial enterprises. The surname is commonly found among Jewish populations in the United States, Israel, Germany and Russia, and is especially frequent in the American states of New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
According to census data from 2015, more than 450 families bearing the surname lived in New York City alone, almost forty per cent of all U.S.-born Peltz families. In Germany the surname is ranked as the 271st most common, with an estimated population of approximately 270,000. Although it is more common at present in the United States, recent immigration trends have increased its prevalence in Germany and other parts of Europe.
The surname has numerous variants reflecting regional linguistic differences. These include Peltz, Peltzer, Pelz, Pelltz, Peltzers, Beltz, Beltzer, Beltzner, Felz, Felts, Felzner, Veltz, Veltzer, Velzner, Pelcz and the rarely used Pehelz. These alternative spellings are predominantly found in parts of Germany, particularly Berlin, as well as throughout Germany, the United States, Canada and Australia.
Typical given names associated with the Peltz surname
Male
- Daniel
- David
- Jeffrey
- Raymond
- Samuel
Female
- Adrianne
- Alyson
- Elizabeth
- Janice
- Lois
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 Peltz in...
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There are approximately 34 people named Peltz in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around one in a million people in Britain are named Peltz.
Famous people named Peltz
- Nicola Peltz - American actress
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.