Hinz
A German surname usually formed from a short pet name for Heinrich (Henry).
The #7,284 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 67,500 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Hinz is a German surname that most often comes from a short medieval pet form of Heinrich, the German equivalent of Henry. The final -z reflects a common German dialect spelling for the sound in such diminutive or familiar forms. In effect, the name originally meant something like "son of Heinrich" or "descendant of Heini/Hinz."
History
The surname developed in German-speaking areas as hereditary surnames became fixed from the late Middle Ages onward. It is especially associated with Germany and German diaspora communities, including immigrants to North America. Related forms and spellings often cluster with other Heinrich-derived surnames such as Heinz and Heintz.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Hinz is one of several German surnames built from the very common medieval name Heinrich, which helps explain why so many seemingly different spellings are closely related.