Surname Prinze - Meaning and Origin
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Prinze: What does the surname Prinze mean?
The last name Prinze is of German origin and suggests that the name was used in a German region at some point in time. It is a patronymic surname, meaning that it is derived from the personal name of the father, or other ancestor of the original bearer of the name.
The root of this name is the French word "Prince", from the Latin word "Princeps". This word means "First", and it was commonly used when referring to rulers or powerful individuals in medieval Europe. As a last name, it suggests that the original bearer of the Prinze name may have been a ruler or leader in their native land.
Over time, the last name Prinze spread to other countries as people with the name immigrated to places such as England and America. In the United States, the Prinze surname is mostly found in the states of New York and Wisconsin. In England, it is mostly found in the regions of Bedfordshire and Lancashire.
The name Prinze is associated with determination, power, and ambition. It is a strong, imposing last name that conveys an aura of authority. It is also a reminder of the times of the past, when it was used as a title for powerful medieval leaders.
Order DNA origin analysisPrinze: Where does the name Prinze come from?
The last name Prinze is most commonly found in Austria and the surrounding countries, primarily in Germany and Hungary. It is not particularly common in any other area of the world.
In Austria, Prinze is found mainly in the state of Lower Austria, as well as in the states of Upper Austria, Burgenland, Styria, and Vorarlberg. It is part of the second-most-used last names in the country, with over 2,000 occurrences registered in the 2021 Austrian Population Register.
Though the frequency of the surname in Austria is quite high, it is relatively obscure in other countries. In Germany, Prinze is a very uncommon name, with only 392 occurrences recorded in the 2021 German Population Register. Most of these Prinzes live in the western states, particularly Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia, which is geographically close to Austria.
In Hungary, the name is reported slightly less often than in Germany, with only 330 occurrences registered in the 2021 Hungarian Population Register. Here, Prinze is found in the cities of Szeged and Pécs, as well as in the county of Hajdú-Bihar.
Overall, the last name Prinze is most common in the region of Central Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, and Hungary. It is a relatively rare name elsewhere in the world.
Variations of the surname Prinze
The surname Prinze can be spelled in various ways, such as Printz, Prins, Printz, Prentz, Prentiss, Prentisser, Pring and Printer. All of these spellings derive from a common source and have the same origin. The name Prinze has Germanic roots, with the root Prinz meaning "prince" and indicating a close association with the royal court.
The surname Prinze can also be found in other countries throughout Europe, even though Prinze is rarely used as a given name. In France, the name can be found spelled as Prinsé, Prince and Prinzé, while in Spain it can be found spelled as Príncipe and Prínsez. In the Netherlands, the spelling is Prins, and in Russian and Poland it is Prinze and Prziński respectively.
Additionally, the surname Prinze can be used with various prefixes and suffixes to create other surnames, such as Prinzvon, Prinzwitz and Prinzburg. These variations were likely created for purposes of identification as the surname was passed down the generations.
The surname Prinze also has a number of variants in other languages. In Arabic, the name is spelled as Farûq al-Burûz; in Turkish, Prinsevi; in Greek, Prinkartzikis; in Italian, Princessi; and in German, Prinzess.
Although all these spellings and surnames are derived from a common origin, they can vary widely in meaning and usage depending on the language and country in which they are used.
Famous people with the name Prinze
- Freddie Prinze Jr.: American actor, best known for his roles in films such as I Know What You Did Last Summer, She's All That, Scooby-Doo, and more.
- Freddie Prinze: Late American actor and comedian who rose to fame in the 1970s, acting in shows such as Chico and the Man and starring in a number of films, including The Terror of Alcatraz and The Norseman.
- Sarah Michelle Gellar: American actress who is married to Freddie Prinze Jr. and is best known for her role as Buffy Summers in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
- Summer Phoenix: American actress and model, and the younger sister of actors Joaquin, the late River, and Liberty Phoenix.
- George Lopez: American stand-up comedian, actor, and talk show host, and is the husband of Ann Serrano, the ex-wife of Freddie Prinze Jr.
- Chico Benymon: American actor, best known for his role in Speed-Dating and the UPN/CW sitcom Half & Half.
- Scot Armstrong: American comedian, actor, and writer who wrote the screenplays for Old School and Starsky & Hutch, and served as executive producer of the HBO TV series Eastbound & Down.
- Verna Bloom: American actress who starred in films such as Animal House, The Last Temptation of Christ, and Little Women.
- Stephen Kramer Glickman: American actor, comedian, writer, and podcaster, best known for his roles in The Aquabats! Super Show! and Big Time Rush.
- Rob Paulsen: American voice actor, best known for his roles in Animaniacs and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.