Surname Hanzer - Meaning and Origin
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Hanzer: What does the surname Hanzer mean?
The last name Hanzer is of German origin and is considered a toponymic or a habitational surname. It is derived from the German word 'Hanz', meaning 'a southwestern slope', and often referred to a town or village located on a riverbank. In particular, the Hanzers were an ethnic Germanic Upper Saxon family who originally settled along the Weser River in what is now Germany, in the 11th and 12th centuries.
The Hanzer family has a long and distinguished history, as it was first documented in the area that is now Germany in 1264. The Hanzer familys' progenitor is believed to be the father of an early mayor of Hamburg, Rolf Hanzer, who was born in 1215. So the Hanzer family can trace its lineage back to the Middle Ages, over 600 years ago.
The Hanzer family has played a significant role throughout German history. In particular, the Hanzer family was heavily involved in the Protestant Reformation led by Martin Luther. Many Hanzer family members were prominent Lutherans and were involved in the spread of Lutheranism throughout Germany.
The Hanzer family is also noted for its many distinguished individuals. Prominent Hanzer family members include Conrad Hanzer, a professor of Philosophy at the University of Jena in the 18th century, as well as Wolfgang Hanzer, a painter from the 16th century.
Today, the Hanzer surname is still fairly common in Germany, with over 4,000 people in the country bearing the name. It can also be found in many other parts of the world, including America, Canada, and Australia.
Order DNA origin analysisHanzer: Where does the name Hanzer come from?
The last name Hanzer is of German origin and is fairly common throughout Germany, especially in areas of Bavaria. It is also commonly found in the United States, although there are much fewer Hanzers in the US than in Germany. The largest population concentration of Hanzers in America is in the Midwest, primarily in the states of Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota.
The Hanzer family name is thought to have first appeared in Bavaria in the 13th century and can be traced back to a certain H. van Anser or Hanser, from whom the name is thought to have derived. Hanzers are now well established as a German surname, originally derived from either a personal name or a place name.
The majority of Hanzers living in the US, unlike those in Germany, trace their lineage back to the original German waves of immigration during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Then the name was mainly derived from the name Hanser or Anser, but today, many of the current Hanzers have adopted the variation "Hannzer".
Today, Hanzers can be found throughout the US and in many other countries around the world, with Germany and America being the largest concentrations.
Variations of the surname Hanzer
Hanzer is an uncommon surname in western countries, originating in the central European region. Spellings of this surname may include Honzer, Hansser, Hansel, Handzer, Haikser, Handzer, Hanzor, and Handzor. The letter "l" is sometimes used instead of the letter "r" in Hanzlr, Hanser, Handzlr, and Hanzel. The original spelling (Hanzer) is the most common in German-speaking countries, but other variations can be found in other European countries.
Variants of the surname Hanzer can be found in countries such as Poland, Hungary and Romania. The Czech surname Honzík is a variation, as is the Slovenian Handzar and the Slovak Hanzalík. It is also possible to trace the surname to regions in other countries, including at least two Austrian villages called Hanzale and Der Hanzer.
Most probably the name is derived from a given name or a place name, as Hanzer is a regional name characteristic for the Germans in southeastern Europe. It is likely that it is derived from the name of the Germanic tribe, the Hanzas, from which the words Handser (meaning `gift from the Hanzas') and Hanzel (meaning `belonging to the Hanzas') were derived.
The name Hanzer has evolved over time and different spellings and variants of the surname can be found in different countries. It is a unique surname with strong roots in the central European region.
Famous people with the name Hanzer
- Ursula Hanzer: former Alpine World Cup skier from Austria.
- Tom Hanzer: American minor league ice hockey player.
- Eric Hanzer: former professional American football player from Canada.
- Kaja Hanzer: Slovenian former professional footballer.
- Albin Hanzer: Austrian ski jumper.
- Helmut Hanzer: Austrian Olympic cross-country skier.
- Jeff Hanzer: American college basketball player.
- Laura Hanzer: German model and philanthropist.
- Marko Hanzer: Slovenian former professional footballer.
- James Hanzer: Former NFL player.
- Jennifer Hanzer: Austrian discus thrower.
- Eric Hanzer: American former ice hockey player.
- Frank Hanzer: American college basketball coach.
- Brian Hanzer: American college basketball player.
- Peter Hanzer: American professional football player.
- Tim Hanzer: Swiss curler.
- Joe Hanzer: American professional ice hockey player.
- Matthew Hanzer: American curling player.
- Joshua Hanzer: American college basketball player.
- Justin Hanzer: American professional tennis player.