Surname Potzus - Meaning and Origin

Potzus: What does the surname Potzus mean?

The last name Potzus is a German surname and ultimately originates from Poland. The exact meaning of the surname is uncertain, however it is believed to be derived from an old Slavic word meaning ‘haystack’, referring to someone who was a hay farmer or perhaps someone who was in the hay business.

In most cases, the Potzus surname was adopted by families who had settled in German-speaking areas well before the 19th century and had likely been living in Poland for generations. This suggests that the potzus surname is much older than the Germany of today.

The name is also most common in the state of Brandenburg in Germany, which used to be part of the former East Germany. This suggests that the surname may have been adopted by a variety of people who were either resettled in the area after the Second World War, or became parts of German communities which had previously existed in Poland.

In addition, the Potzus surname is shared by a few other isolated families residing in the Czech Republic. These families likely have a similar origin as the German Potzuses, and may have been part of a widespread community across both countries.

It is still uncertain what exactly the last name means or where it originated. But the most likely origin points to a distant family in Poland, who may have carried the name down the generations across Germany into the present day.

Potzus: Where does the name Potzus come from?

The last name Potzus is rarely seen today, although it is possible to find individuals with this name living in various parts of the world. The name is especially common in many parts of Europe, specifically Germany and Sweden, where it is believed to have originated. It is also common in the United States, though it is more frequently seen as Pouts in this country.

In Germany, the name is one of the oldest recorded surnames. It is thought to have originally been spelled Potz, and to have eventually become Potzus around the 1600s. Records from the Middle Ages suggest that the surname belonged to a noble family in Bavaria.

In Sweden, the name is common in many regions, and is believed to have been taken from a village in the area. The most fruitful research into the origins of the Potzus name in this country has been conducted around the city of Gothenburg, in the south-west of the country.

Though the name is not particularly common today, it can be found in many countries. In addition to Germany and Sweden, it is also common in Ireland, Finland, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Brazil. However, due to the loss of the original spelling, many people are unaware of their connection to the Potzus name.

Variations of the surname Potzus

The surname Potzus (or Potzuss) is a variant of the German name Potz, which likely originates from the Middle High German and Austrian term "potz" or "poz", meaning lightning strike. Throughout history, this surname has existed in numerous variations, some of the most common being Potzus, Potzeus, Potzuss, Poetz, Pozzeus, Poetze, Poetzius, and Potzgauer.

The German spelling of Potzus consists of the prefix "Potz" coupled with the suffix "us", meaning Potzus translates roughly to "Of Potz." It's important to note that the older and more traditional spelling of the surname normally has a double "zz" in the middle, written as Poetzius. Over the course of time, this spelling has been shortened by quite a few people, resulting in the modern spelling Potzus.

Many variants of Potzus exist all across Europe, and as such, most of the variations and alternate spellings of the surname will depend strongly on the specific language of the respective country in which it exists, including English, Dutch, German, Polish, Czech, Ukrainian, Hungarian, Serbian, and Latvian.

In English variants, the surname has been recorded as Poetz, Poetze, Poets, Poetering, Poetzing, Poetsinger, and Poetman. In Dutch, the surname can appear as Potzu, Potza, Potzo, and Potzinger. In German, variants exist such as Poetzel, Potzgauer, Potzmann, Potzerl, and Potzsch. In Polish, the spelling may appear as Potzorz or Potzuwski, and in Czech, it may reach as Potzek or Potzat. In Ukrainian and Hungarian, the name can be seen as Potzan, and in Serbian, the spelling may be Potzyn. Additionally, the Latvian variant of Potzus appears as Pot'uz's.

In conclusion, the surname Potzus and its numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin are part of a wide and varied family of surnames derived from Middle High German and Austrian "potz" or "poz" and its many regional dialects.

Famous people with the name Potzus

• Don Potzus, former NFL American football player.
• Amanda Potzus, American actress and screenwriter.
• Dr. Thomas Potzus, German physician who specializes in internal medicine.
• Dr. Olaf Potzus, German physicist who has worked in the aerospace and automotive industries.
• Ulf Potzus, German painter specializing in landscapes.
• Erwin Potzus, Swiss sculptor and glass artist known for his abstract works.
• Ludger Potzus, German architect known for his modernistic designs.
• Joachim Potzus, German scholar and professor noted for his work on linguistics.
• Ingeborg Potzus, German author and playwright whose works have been made into films.
• Teddy Potzus, German-born singer and songwriter who has released several albums.

Other surnames

Potzuweit