Show ContentsWaltz History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Waltz

What does the name Waltz mean?

The ancestral home of the Waltz family is in the German state of Bavaria. The name Waltz is an occupational hereditary surname, a type of surname that was taken from a word describing or common to the profession of the original bearer. It is a name for a man who was a young ruler.

Early Origins of the Waltz family

The surname Waltz was first found in Bavaria, where the name Walser made a great early contribution to the feudal society of early Europe. The name Walser became prominent in local affairs and branched into many houses which played important roles in the savage tribal and national conflicts, each group seeking power and status in an ever changing territorial profile.

Early History of the Waltz family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Waltz research. Another 59 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1661 is included under the topic Early Waltz History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Waltz Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Waltz include Walser, Walzer, Walsser, Walleser, Walsen, Waltz, Waltzer, Walss, Waelser, Waelzer, Waelsser, Waelleser and many more.

Early Notables of the Waltz family

More information is included under the topic Early Waltz Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Waltz Ranking

In the United States, the name Waltz is the 5,686th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1


Waltz migration to the United States +

German settlers were among the most common to come to North America between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries. Poverty and religious persecution drove many Bavarians to make this long trek. tenant farmers were also enticed by the prospect of owning land. From east to west, these German immigrants populated the United States, settling in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada also provided homes to many. Early settlers bearing the Waltz surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Waltz Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Peter Waltz, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1738 2
  • Johan Reinhart Waltz, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1744 2
  • Michael Waltz, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1750 2
  • Joseph Waltz, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1750 2
  • Jacob Waltz, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1751 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Waltz Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Elizabeth Waltz, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1806 2
  • Catharena Waltz, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1806 2
  • Christiana Waltz, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1806 2
  • Joan Waltz, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1806 2
  • Regena Waltz, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1806 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Waltz (post 1700) +

  • Marilyn Ardith Waltz (1931-2006), American actress and model, Playmate of the Month in the February 1954, April 1954, and April 1955 issues of "Playboy"
  • Lisa Waltz (b. 1961), American actress from Limerick, Pennsylvania, known for My So-Called Life (1994), Dark Skies (1996) and Cold Case (2003)
  • Ian Waltz (b. 1977), American discus thrower
  • Rich Waltz, the current American play-by-play commentator for Florida Marlins baseball team
  • Kenneth Neal Waltz (b. 1924), American member of the faculty at the University of California, Berkeley
  • Gustavus Waltz (1732-1759), German bass opera singer who collaborated with Handel
  • Sasha Alexandra Waltz (b. 1963), German choreographer, dancer and leader of a dance company
  • Christopher Waltz (b. 1956), Austrian two-time Academy Award, Gold Globe and BAFTA Award actor, known for Django Unchained (2012), Inglourious Basterds (2009), and The Zero Theorem (2013)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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