Surname Pankratz - Meaning and Origin
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Pankratz: What does the surname Pankratz mean?
The last name Pankratz is of German and Swiss-German origin. It is either an occupational name, derived from the Old German word "pankraz," meaning "helper," or it comes from the Old German phrase "pan hroda," which translates to "all the fame."
Pankratz is derived from the Old German element "pank," which means unwritten. This indicates that the originator of the name or one of his relatives probably was in a profession or trade that was not documented in medieval records. Therefore, it is impossible to know exactly when the name was first used.
The original spelling of the name was "Pancehraht" or "Pankraht," but later variants included Pankraz, Pancekrach, Pangkracht, Pankrath, and finally, Pankratz.
The Pankratz family is believed to have first settled in Prussia, and then moved to Switzerland sometime during the 13th century. They eventually spread out to other parts of Germany and Austria.
The name continues to be popular in Switzerland and Germany, especially among German-speaking communities in the United States.
Pankratz is a name that indicates a proud heritage, one that still lives on as people descend from the original settlers. It is a reminder of the courage and dedication of those who went before us, and of their sacrifices to build a better future.
Order DNA origin analysisPankratz: Where does the name Pankratz come from?
The surname Pankratz is most commonly found in Germany, and is especially concentrated in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Saxony. It originated in Franconia, an area in central Germany, and is derived from an ancient Middle High German word meaning "one who has power or authority." The surname is still very common in Germany today, and there are also numerous Pankratz families living throughout other parts of Europe, Russia, and North America.
In the United States, the Pankratz name is especially prevalent in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Nebraska. In Canada, the surname is found mainly in Alberta and British Columbia. There are scarce records of the Pankratz family appearing elsewhere, such as in Australia.
It is interesting to note that several Pankratz families stand out in history. For example, Abraham Pankratz was a German-American military officer who served in the Revolutionary War. Jacob Pankratz, a conscientious objector, was executed for his part in the Mennonite resistance movement during the Second World War. In Germany, Ferdinand Pankratz was a surgeon and scientist who invented the first anesthetic inhalation machine.
Given that the Pankratz surname is still found in many countries across the world, it is likely that it will continue to remain a part of family trees and histories moving forward.
Variations of the surname Pankratz
The surname Pankratz is a German locational name, and is rooted in the name ‘Crato’, which is a region in the north-east of Germany. The variants and spellings of the surname are many, revealing how the name has evolved over the centuries and developments in language. Common variants include Pankewitz, Pancratz, Panczratz, Ponkratz, Ponkretz, and Penzratz.
The type of surname that Pankratz is commonly referred to as is a “habitational name” – one that can be found in many places across Europe and even America and Canada from the mid-1800s onwards, as immigrants and settlers took the surname with them. As such, many surnames of the same origin can be found in Italy as Pancrazio, in Norway as Pankevitz and Pankratz, in Poland, Russia and Ukraine as Ponkrats, and Pancratov, and in Hungary as Pancratz.
Another form of the surname is the patronymic, which changed from place to place according to language, grammar and pronunciation. Variants of Pankratz as a patronymic include Pankratzov, Pankratzoff, Pankratzev, Pankratzow, Pankratzi, Pancratsova, Panzkrats, Pancratz and Pankartz.
To add to the confusion, spelling variations can also be founds; Panczratz and its alternative like Pancratz and Pankewitz were all derived from the same place, the region of Crato in Germany, but the local dialects and grammars produced their own flavours of the same-origin surname.
In conclusion, the surname Pankratz has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, with some of the more common ones being Pankewitz, Pancratz, Panczratz, Ponkratz, Ponkretz, Penzratz, Pancrazio, Pankevitz, Pankratzov, Pankratzoff, Pankratzev, Pankratzow, Pankratzi, Pancratsova, Panzkrats, Pancratz and Pankartz.
Famous people with the name Pankratz
- William Pankratz: former Republican member of the Wyoming State Senate.
- Robert Pankratz: Canadian professional ice hockey player.
- Neal Pankratz: American psychologist, professor, and author.
- Bertha Pankratz: American former Republican member of the Montana Legislature.
- Toby Pankratz: American football player.
- Justin Pankratz: American professional cyclist.
- Kenneth Pankratz: American politician.
- Ainslee Pankratz: American actress.
- Ryan Pankratz: Canadian professional ice hockey player.
- Mary Pankratz: American businessman and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
- Harold Pankratz: American hexacopter pilot and entrepreneur.
- Lori Pankratz: American wrestler.
- Gladys Pankratz: Canadian politician.
- Trevor Pankratz: American college football safety.
- Matt Pankratz: American basketball coach and teacher.