Surname Pickholz - Meaning and Origin
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Pickholz: What does the surname Pickholz mean?
The last name Pickholz is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "pickolz," which means "pikeman." This type of soldier was one of the earliest forms of infantry, armed with a long pike-like weapon and often employed as shock troops. The Pickholz surname was likely given to a soldier who was skilled with the pike or otherwise prominent in the pikeman battalion.
Pickholz is also found in Jewish records, especially those of the Austrian-Hungarian empire. In this region, the name was adopted as a Hebrew name, later becoming phonetically anglicized as Pickholz. In this region, the name is often found with variants such as Pickholc and Pickholtz.
The modern Pickholz family can trace its roots to distant ancestors who served as pikemen or who were members of the Jewish community of Eastern Europe. Nowadays, the Pickholz surname is commonly found throughout Europe, North America, Australia, and Brazil. It is a unique and evocative name that carries the legacy of hardworking, courageous men who played an important role in the history of the region.
Order DNA origin analysisPickholz: Where does the name Pickholz come from?
The last name Pickholz is of German origin, and is most commonly found today in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland. It is also a fairly rare name in the United States, with some individuals of German or Jewish descent in the United States also bearing the surname.
The variations in the spelling of the name Pickholz have helped to keep the name relatively rare. Common variations include Pikholz, Pickholc, Pikholc, and even Pickholts. Both the German and English versions of the name are derived from the Middle High German term “piccholt” which means “small peak of land”. This may give some clue to the original location of the ancestors who first bore this name.
Today, Pickholz is not an overly common name, but there are some people who still carry the name forward. While many of these individuals might be originally from Europe, it can also be found scattered across the globe. It is especially common for Jews of High German descent to bear the Pickholz last name.
Therefore, to answer the question of where the last name Pickholz is common today, the answer is that it can be primarily found in Europe, especially in Germany and Austria. Additionally, there are some individuals who still bear this name outside of Europe as well, with a small presence in the United States and around the globe.
Variations of the surname Pickholz
The surname Pickholz has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Pickholz is a German and Jewish surname. It is derived from the Middle High German word "pickel" meaning 'point', 'prickle' or 'pin'. This was likely used as a nickname for someone who was pointy, pricky or difficult to deal with.
Variants of Pickholz, which is a common Jewish surname, include Pickholtz, Pikholz, Pikhults and Pikhulz. This last spelling is found in Lithuania, where it is a Yiddish variant. Spelling variations in German include Pickholtz, Pichels, Pickholt, Pickholdt, Pickhold, Pickel, Pickelhaupt, Pickolts, Pickholt and Pikholz.
Other surnames of the same origin as Pickholz include Pickel, Pickles, Pickels, Pitchford, Pitchforde and Poyker. These surnames are found primarily in England and are Anglicized versions of the German surname.
In the United States, Pickholz is most commonly found in the state of New York. There, individuals bearing the surname have their roots in the Jewish immigrant communities of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The reach of this surname extends beyond the United States and Germany, however. It is also found in countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and Israel, among others.
No matter the spelling, Pickholz is an interesting surname that has traveled the world. Its variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin continue to show evidence of its migratory history and are a fascinating example of how family names evolve over time.
Famous people with the name Pickholz
- Josh Pickholz: Author, attorney, and founding partner of Pickholz Law Offices.
- Cory Pickholz: American filmmaker, actor, and coach.
- Henry Pickholz: Professor of Neuroscience at Yeshiva University’s Albert Einstein Medical College and founding director of the Institute for Molecular and Cellular Signaling.
- Lars Pickholz: Danish actor and comedian best known for his work in the television show “The Niels Juel Times”.
- Eugen Pickholtz: German economist and German Social Democratic politician during the Weimar Republic.
- Henry Pickholtz: Former Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the New York Giants from 1927 to 1929.
- Stephen Pickholtz: President & CEO of MedTechy Solutions, Inc., an FDA compliance firm.
- Theo Pickholz: Professional poker player from the US who primarily plays in tournaments on the Las Vegas scene.
- Ann Pickholz: American news anchor and television presenter best known for being the evening anchor for MSNBC.
- Barbara Pickholz: American theater producer and director, best known for co-founding The Imagination Company in 1983.