Meaning & History
Arentz is a Dutch surname, a variant of Arends, which means "son of Arend." Arend itself is a Dutch and German variant of Arnold, a Germanic name composed of the elements arn "eagle" and walt "power," thus meaning "eagle power."
Etymology and Origins
The surname Arentz derives from the patronymic tradition common in the Netherlands, where names ending in "-s" indicate "son of." Arends (and its variants Arentz, Aarens, Aerse, etc.) ultimately trace back to the personal name Arend, a form of Arnold. Arnold was introduced to England by the Normans, replacing the Old English cognate Earnweald, and though it fell out of use after the Middle Ages, it saw a revival in the 19th century. The root element arn also means "eagle" in Dutch, giving the name a double layer of meaning—both through the etymology of Arnold and the literal Dutch word for eagle.
Notable Bearers
Several individuals bear the surname Arentz:
- Bjarne Arentz (1928–2017), Norwegian alpine skier
- Charles Arentz (1878–1968), Norwegian sailor who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics
- Dick Arentz (born 1935), American fine art photographer and author
- Frederik Arentz (1702–1779), Norwegian Lutheran bishop of Bjørgvin
- Hans Severin Arentz (1806–1875), Norwegian politician
- Samuel S. Arentz (1879–1934), American politician from Nevada
- Steven J. Arentz (born 1951), American politician from Maryland
Related Names and Variants
The surname Arentz is part of a broader family of patronymic surnames derived from Arend. Variants include Aarens, Aarse, Aartsen, Aerssens, Arends, and Arendsen. Cognates in other languages include Arendse (Afrikaans), Arnold (German), Aerts (Flemish), Arnaud (French), Aartsma (Frisian), and Naldi (Italian).
Key Facts
- Meaning: Variant of Arends, "son of Arend" (eagle power)
- Origin: Dutch
- Type: Patronymic surname
- Usage regions: Netherlands, Norway (notable bearers), United States