Meaning & History
Artz is a Dutch patronymic surname that means "son of Aart." The name Aart is a Dutch short form of Arnold, a Germanic name derived from the elements arn "eagle" and walt "power, authority", giving the meaning "eagle power." As a patronymic, Artz originally indicated someone who was the son of a man named Aart. It is most common in the Netherlands and among Dutch emigrant communities.
Etymology and Linguistic Origin
The root name Arnold was introduced to England by the Normans and replaced the Old English cognate Earnweald. While it died out as an English given name after the Middle Ages, it was revived in the 19th century. In the Dutch context, Aart became a common given name, and from it, the surname Artz (alongside variant Aarts and Arts 1) developed as a patronymic. Related forms in other languages include Arnold (German, given name), Aerts (Flemish), Arnaud (French), Aartsma (Frisian), and Naldi (Italian).
Distribution and Statistics
According to the 2010 United States Census, Artz was the 11,229th most common surname in the country, with 2,814 bearers. The vast majority (95.02%) identified as White. In the Netherlands, the name remains more frequent, particularly in the southern provinces.
- Meaning: "son of Aart" (Aart being a Dutch short form of Arnold, which means "eagle power")
- Origin: Dutch
- Type: patronymic surname
- Usage regions: Netherlands, United States, South Africa (among Dutch diaspora)
- Variants: Aarts, Arts 1
Related Names
Sources: Wiktionary — Artz