Moritz
A German and Jewish surname from the given name Maurice, ultimately meaning “Moor.”
The #5,596 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 49,669 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Moritz is the German form of the personal name Maurice, which goes back to Latin Mauricius and Maurus. The root Maurus originally meant “Moor” or “dark-skinned,” so the name began as an ethnic byname before becoming a personal name and then a surname. In German-speaking areas, Moritz developed as a hereditary surname from that given name; it is also found among Jewish families as an adopted surname based on the same name tradition.
History
The surname is especially associated with German-speaking regions, where Moritz has long been a common personal name and family name. Historical sources also note its use among Jewish families in German and related European contexts. The same name-family appears across Europe in forms such as Maurice, Morris, Mauritz, and Moriz.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The name-family behind Moritz spread widely across Europe, producing local forms from French Maurice to English Morris and German Moritz.
From the historical record
“Morgenbesser III. 8atz-N. (S. 50f.). Moritz s. Mauritius. Momewen: III. = „morgen weg" — daraus Momewey, Vgl. Mörnhinweg, Momenweg 14. Jh. Morqnardt s. Mark I.”
— Die deutschen Familiennamen