RITZ
Ritz
The surname Ritz is of German origin, deriving from the medieval personal name "Ric(h)t(h)a(rd)", a compound of the elements "ric(h)t", meaning "power" or "rule", and "hard", meaning "brave" or "hardy". The name was borne by various saints, including a 10th-century bishop of Augsburg.
The Ritz surname first appeared in Britain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the influx of German immigrants to the country. The most notable association with the name is the luxury hotel chain "The Ritz". The original Ritz Hotel in London was opened in 1906 by renowned hotelier César Ritz, attracting high society clientele from around the world.
Notable individuals bearing the surname Ritz include the American hotelier César Ritz, founder of the Ritz Hotel in London, and the Swiss hotelier Albert Ritz, who further expanded the Ritz brand internationally. The surname Ritz continues to be associated with luxury and sophistication, reflecting the esteemed reputation of the Ritz hotels around the world.
There are approximately 84 people named Ritz in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around one in a million people in Britain are named Ritz.