Surname Schults - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Schults: What does the surname Schults mean?
The last name Schults is a German surname and is a variant of Schultz. This surname is derived from the term "Schultheiss", a title in Medieval Germany given to a local official in charge of law and order, similar to the role of a sheriff or mayor nowadays. Schultheiss can be broken down into two parts - "schuld" meaning "debt" or "due", and "heizen" to "command". Hence, it symbolizes a position of authority. It’s also noted that the name may have originated from "schule", a German word for "school", relating to a profession as a teacher. Over time and with linguistic changes, "Schultheiss" has transformed into several variants such as Schultz, Schulz, and Schults. So, the last name Schults typically represents an ancestor who held an authoritative or educational position. Like many surnames, the spelling often changed depending on the region and phonetics.
Order DNA origin analysisSchults: Where does the name Schults come from?
The last name Schults is most commonly seen today in Germany and parts of Eastern Europe. It is known to be a variant of Schultze, which is German in origin, and is derived from the word schulte, meaning “judge”. It was a common name among the upper-middle class families starting in the 1500s. Schultzes remain quite common in Germany, particularly in the southern and eastern parts, suggesting that this area was one of the original homes of the Schultzes.
The name has spread throughout many surrounding countries due to migrations, such as the Napoleonic wars and World War I and II. In countries belonging to the former East Bloc, there are large numbers of Schultzes due to the large-scale population movements that took place after the fall of the Iron Curtain. The surname has also spread to the United States, which is home to one of the largest populations of Schultzes in the world.
The Schultzes have a long and storied history, and can be traced back as far as the 1300s. The name continues to be popular in both Germany and abroad, and with a wide range of nationalities, is sure to remain around for a long time yet.
Variations of the surname Schults
The surname Schults has many variants and surnames of the same origin. It is a German surname and may be spelled Schults, Schulze, Schultz, Schulz, and Schulte.
Schults is derived from the Middle High German word “schultheisse”, which means “reeve”. It was an administrative position in the medieval period in the Germanic region. It belonged to a man who represented the local lord and was responsible for maintaining order. The surname was most likely created by adding the suffix "-s" to denote a son of the position holder.
Other similar surnames and variations include: Schult, Schutte, Schug, Shultz, Schuette, Schuh, and Schutze.
Surnames derived from Schults include Schulting, Shulthess, Sholts, Sholtz, Sholte, Sholtes, Scholte, and Sholtis.
At various times, the spelling of the surname has been changed due to phonetic mis-transcription or mistranslation. These spellings include: Scholtz, Schalz, Schalts, Schalze, Scholz, Schulce, Scholls, Scholt, and Schultze. It has also adapted in other languages, including Dutch (Scholtz) and French (Schults, Schoult).
The variants and surnames of Schults illustrate the diverse range of surnames within the German language. They also emphasize the importance of preserving the correct spelling of a surname when researching genealogy records.
Famous people with the name Schults
- Erik Schults: Austrian boxer
- Martijn Schults: Dutch TV producer and screenwriter
- Tanya Schults: English contemporary artist
- Steve Schults: American professional baseball player
- Joe Schults: American former professional basketball player
- Alexander Schult: German political theorist, philosopher and lawyer
- Peter Schults: Belgian professional football player
- Karl Schult: German wire artist
- Mary Schults: American author and illustrator
- David Schults: German former professional footballer
- Dean Schults: American professional angler
- Eva Schults: Dutch ceramicist and sculptor
- Jan Schults: Swedish former politician
- Ralph Schulte: American former professional basketball player
- Dieter Schulte: German trade unionist and prominent political figure
- Ralf Schults: German organist, choirmaster, composer and conductor
- Hans Schults: Dutch actor
- Carsten Schults: German modern pentathlete
- Eric Schults: American Olympic fencer
- Jan Peter Schults: Dutch former soccer player