Katz is a common German and

Ashkenazi Ashkenazi Jews ( ; he, יְהוּדֵי אַשְׁכְּנַז, translit=Yehudei Ashkenaz, ; yi, אַשכּנזישע ייִדן, Ashkenazishe Yidn), also known as Ashkenazic Jews or ''Ashkenazim'',, Ashkenazi Hebrew pronunciation: , singu ...

surname. Germans with the last name Katz may originate in the Rhine River region of Germany, where the Katz Castle is located. (The name of the castle does not derive from , "cat", but from

Katzenelnbogen Katzenelnbogen () is the name of a castle and small town in the district of Rhein-Lahn-Kreis in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Katzenelnbogen is the seat of the ''Verbandsgemeinde'' ("collective municipality") Aar-Einrich. History Katzenelnboge ...

, going back to Latin , consisting of the ancient Germanic tribal names of the Chatti and Melibokus.) Where it is a Jewish surname, ''Katz'' is almost always an

abbreviation An abbreviation (from Latin ''brevis'', meaning ''short'') is a shortened form of a word or phrase, by any method. It may consist of a group of letters or words taken from the full version of the word or phrase; for example, the word ''abbrevia ...

( he, כּ״ץ) formed from the initials of the term ("priest of justice"/"authentic priest") or (meaning the name-bearer is of patrilineal descent of the

Kohanim sons of Zadok The Sons of Zadok ( he, בְּנֵי צָדוֹק ''bǝnê Ṣādōq'') are a family of priests, kohens, descended from Zadok, the first High Priest, high priest in Solomon's Temple. The sons of Zadok are mentioned three times in the Hebrew Bible, ...

), although when spelled out may mean the family doesn't descend from Kohanim. It has been used since the seventeenth century, or perhaps somewhat earlier, as an epithet of the descendants of

Aaron According to Abrahamic religions, Aaron ''′aharon'', ar, هارون, Hārūn, Greek (Septuagint): Ἀαρών; often called Aaron the priest ()., group="note" ( or ; ''’Ahărōn'') was a prophet, a high priest, and the elder brother of ...

. The collocation is most likely derived from '' Melchizedek'' ("king of righteousness"), who is called "the priest (''kohen'') of the most high God" ( Genesis xiv. 18), or perhaps from Psalm cxxxii. 9: "Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness (''tzedeq'')". The use of the abbreviated and Germanicized ''Katz'' likely coincided with the imposition of German names on Jews in Germany in the 18th or 19th century. If the reading is correct, this abbreviation occurs on a tombstone, dated 1536, in the cemetery of Prague. It is found also on a tombstone of the year 1618 in Frankfurt, in the books of the Soncino family of Prague of the seventeenth century,

Zunz Zunz ( he, צוּנְץ, yi, צונץ) is a Yiddish surname: * (1874–1939), Belgian pharmacologist * Sir Gerhard Jack Zunz (1923–2018), British civil engineer * Leopold Zunz (Yom Tov Lipmann Tzuntz) (1794–1886), German Reform rabbi an ...

, ''Z.G.'' p. 262. and in one of the prefaces to Shabbethai ben Meïr ha-Kohen's notes on the ''Choshen Mishpat'' ( Amsterdam, 1663).

People

* Ada Katz (born 1928), American artist's model * Albert Katz (1858–1923), writer * Alex Katz (born 1927), American artist * Alex Katz (baseball) (born 1994), American baseball player * Allan Katz (born 1941), American comedy writer *

Allan J. Katz Allan Jack Katz (born April 30, 1947) is a former City Commissioner of Tallahassee and American Ambassador to Portugal. President Barack Obama nominated Allan to be Ambassador of the United States of America to the Portuguese Republic in November ...

(born 1947), American ambassador to Portugal * Amir Katz (born 1973), Israeli-born musician * Andy Katz (born 1968), American college basketball journalist * Sir

Bernard Katz Sir Bernard Katz, Fellow of the Royal Society, FRS (; 26 March 1911 – 20 April 2003) was a German-born British people, British physician and biophysics, biophysicist, noted for his work on nerve physiology. He shared the Nobel Prize in Physiol ...

(1911–2003), German-born British biophysicist *

Boris Katz Boris Katz (born October 5, 1947) is a principal American research scientist (computer scientist) at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge and head of the Labora ...

(born 1947), American computer scientist *

Burt Katz Burton D. Katz (7 July 1937, in Chicago – 30 April 2016) was a pizza-maker and owner of Burt's Place, a Morton Grove, Illinois, pizza restaurant. Burt and his wife Sharon achieved worldwide fame in 2009 after being featured on a Chicago-themed e ...

(1937–2016), American restaurateur * Daniel Katz (psychologist) (1903–1998), American psychologist *

Daniel Katz (politician) Victor Daniel Katz Jora known as Daniel Katz born in 1961, is an Argentine politician. He is a member of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies. He previously served as high-profile mayor of the city and beach resort of Mar del Plata in Buenos Aires P ...

(born 1961), Argentine politician and former mayor of Mar del Plata, Argentina * Danny Katz (columnist), Australian columnist and author * Daryl Katz, Canadian drug store owner, owner of Edmonton Oilers * David Katz (author), British music historian and journalist * Dovid Katz, Lithuanian-American Yiddishist and academic * Elias Katz, Finnish 3,000-meter team steeplechase Olympic champion *

Elie Katz Elie Y. Katz (born July 16, 1974) is an American politician and businessman. He served as the Mayor of Teaneck, New Jersey from 2006 to 2008. Biography Katz was born on July 16, 1974, in Teaneck, New Jersey. He attended Torah Academy of Bergen Co ...

, former mayor of Teaneck, New Jersey, United States * Elihu Katz, American sociologist *

Emmanuel Mané-Katz Emmanuel Mané-Katz (Hebrew: מאנה כץ), born ''Mane Leyzerovich Kats'' (1894–1962), was a Litvak painter born in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, best known for his depictions of the Jewish shtetl in Eastern Europe. Biography Mane-Katz moved to ...

, Ukraine-born Israeli artist *

Erez Katz Erez Katz (ארז כץ; born April 9, 1980) is an Israeli former basketball player. He played the point guard position. He played for Hapoel Jerusalem, Ironi Ashkelon, Hapoel Tel Aviv, Bnei Herzliya, and the Israel men's national basketball tea ...

(born 1980), Israeli basketball player *

Erich Katz Erich Katz (July 31, 1900 – July 30, 1973) was a German-born musicologist, composer, music critic, musician and professor. He fled the Nazis in 1939, arriving first in England, emigrating to the United States in 1943, where he became a citizen. He ...

(1900–1973), German-born musicologist and Jewish refugee * Ethan Katz (born 1983), American assistant pitching coach for the San Francisco Giants * Gary Katz, American music producer * Haim Katz, Israeli politician * Harold Katz, American entrepreneur *

Harold A. Katz Harold A. Katz (November 2, 1921 – December 6, 2012) was an American lawyer and politician. Early life and career Katz was born in Shelbyville, Tennessee. He received his bachelor's degree in economics in 1943 from Vanderbilt University. Ka ...

(1921–2012), American lawyer and politician * Ian Katz, British journalist (born in South Africa) * Israel Katz, Israeli politician * Jackson Katz, creator of gender violence prevention and education program Mentors in Violence Prevention * Jacob Katz, Israeli historian * Jane Katz, competitive swimmer and author of successful swimming books * Jane Lobman Katz (1931–1986), American activist *

Jay Katz (disambiguation) Jay Katz may refer to: * Jay Katz (1920–2008), American medical ethicist * A nickname for Jaimie Leonarder * A pseudonym for Jim Keith See also * Jay * Katz (disambiguation) Katz or KATZ may refer to: Fiction * Katz Kobayashi, a character in J ...

, name/pseudonym for several people * Jeff Katz, American film producer and comic book author *

Jeffrey Owen Katz Jeffrey Owen Katz (born 1950) is an American scientist best known for his pivotal contribution to the field of factor analysis and his development of innovative AI (artificial intelligence) tools. He was a child prodigy in the area of electron ...

, American scientist * Jeffry Katz, American music producer * Jerrold Katz, American philosopher and linguist *

Joanne Katz Joanne Katz is an epidemiologist, biostatistician, and Professor of International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She holds joint appointments in the Departments of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Ophthalmology wi ...

, American professor *

Joette Katz Joette Katz (born February 3, 1953) is an American attorney who is a partner at the law firm, Shipman & Goodwin LL She was an associate justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court, where she also served as the administrative judge for the state ap ...

(born 1953), American attorney * Jon Katz (born 1947), American journalist and writer * Jonathan Katz (born 1946), American comedian, actor, and voice actor * Jonathan David Katz (born 1958), American professor * Jonathan Ned Katz (born 1938), historian of LGBT American history * Joseph Katz (disambiguation) *

Judah Katz Judah Katz (born June 23, 1960) is a Canadian actor born in Montreal, Quebec. He has worked in Toronto and Los Angeles for more than 30 years, appearing in both TV series and films. Winning an ACTRA award (now called a Gemini Award) for his v ...

, Canadian actor *

Louise Katz Louise Katz is an Australian fantasy and science fiction novelist and academic. Biography Katz was born in Canberra, Australia, and attended art school in Adelaide. She is a Doctor of Creative Arts and has taught creative writing and academic w ...

, Australian writer of fantasy and young adult fiction * Leo Katz, jurist * Leo Katz (1914–1976), American statistician * (1892–1954), Austrian writer * Leon Katz (born 1919), professor emeritus of drama at Yale University * Leon Katz (1909–2004), Canadian physicist * Liz Katz, American cosplayer and actress whose credits include Guest House and

Borderlands 3 ''Borderlands 3'' is an action role-playing first-person shooter video game developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K. It is a sequel to 2012's ''Borderlands 2'', and the fourth entry in the main ''Borderlands'' series. ''Borderlands ...

Martin Katz (disambiguation) Martin Katz may refer to: * Martin Katz (pianist) * Martin Katz (jewelry designer) * Martin Katz (producer) Martin F. Katz is a Canadian film and television producer and media executive. He is president of the production firm Prospero Pictures, a ...

* Maxim Katz, Russian politician and activist * Mickey Katz, American comedian and musician * Mike Katz, American bodybuilder * Mikhail Katz, Israeli mathematician and professor * Miriam Katz (born 1931), birth name of Miriam Zohar, Israeli actress *

Nathan Katz (professor) Nathan Katz, Ph.D., is Distinguished Professor, Emeritus, in the School of International and Public Affairs, Florida International University (FIU). He also served as the Bhagawan Mahavir Professor of Jain Studies, Founder-Director of the Program i ...

, American professor *

Nathan Katz (poet) Nathan Katz (24 December 1892, in Waldighofen – 12 January 1981, in Mulhouse) was a Jewish Alsatian poet from the Sundgau region. He wrote in Standard German as well as the Alsatian dialect. Serving at the East Front during the First World War ...

, Alsatian poet * Nets Katz, mathematician *

Nicholas Katz Nicholas Michael Katz (born December 7, 1943) is an American mathematician, working in arithmetic geometry, particularly on ''p''-adic methods, monodromy and moduli problems, and number theory. He is currently a professor of Mathematics at P ...

, American mathematician * Omri Katz, American-Israeli actor * Otto Katz, agent of the Soviet Union *

Paul Katz Paul Katz is an American cellist, who was a member of the Cleveland Quartet from 1969 to 1995.Katherine Millett "Cellist Paul Katz Puts His Students on Equal Footing" ''Strings'' August/Sept, 2007 He and his wife, pianist Pei-Shan Lee, reside in B ...

, American cellist * Phil Katz, American computer programmer * Phoebe Cates (born Phoebe Belle Katz), American actress * Ralph Katz, American bridge player *

Randy H. Katz Randy Howard Katz is a distinguished professor at University of California, Berkeley of the electrical engineering and computer science department. Biography Katz was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1955. He was first exposed to computers in Cana ...

, UC Berkeley professor * Raphael Katz, American politician *

Richard H. Katz Richard H. Katz (born 1942) is an American bridge player from Rancho Mirage, California.. He is also a physician and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Katz and Cohen Katz and Larry T. Cohen won the collegiate bridge champi ...

, American bridge player *

Robert Katz Robert Katz (27 June 1933 – 20 October 2010) was an American novelist, screenwriter, and non-fiction author. Biography Katz was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Sidney and Helen Katz, née Holland, and married Beverly Gerstel on Septem ...

(1933–2010), American novelist, screenwriter, and non-fiction author * Ronald A. Katz, inventor *

Ron Katz Ron Katz ( he, רוֹן כַּץ, born 4 October 1985) is an Israeli lawyer and politician. He is currently a member of the Knesset for Yesh Atid. Biography Katz was born in Afula in 1985. During his national service in the Israeli Defence Forc ...

, Israeli politician * Ryan Katz, American professional wrestler billed as "GQ Money" * Sam Katz, mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba * Samuel Katz (disambiguation) * Sandor Katz (born 1962), American DIY writer and food activist *

Sheldon Katz Sheldon H. Katz (19 December 1956, Brooklyn) is an American mathematician, specializing in algebraic geometry and its applications to string theory. Background and Career In 1973 Katz won first prize in the United States of America Mathematical Ol ...

(born 1956), American mathematician * Shemuel Katz (1926–2010), Israeli artist *

Sidney A. Katz Sidney Arnold Katz (born March 24, 1950) is an American politician and businessman. He currently is a member of the Montgomery County Council representing District 3. Early life and education Katz is a lifelong resident of Gaithersburg. He a ...

, mayor of Gaithersburg, Maryland *

Simon Katz Simon Katz (born 16 May 1971) is an English songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, best known for his work with the band Jamiroquai from 1995 to 2000. Katz was a recipient of the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo Or Group With Vocal ...

, English songwriter and multi-instrumentalist * Steve Katz (disambiguation), several people :*

Steve Katz (writer) Steve Katz (May 14, 1935 – August 4, 2019) was an American writer. He is considered an early post-modern or avant-garde writer for works such as '' The Exagggerations of Peter Prince'' (1968), and ''Saw'' (1972). His collection of stories, '' Cr ...

(1935–2019), American writer :*

Steve Katz (musician) Steven Katz (born May 9, 1945) is a guitarist, singer, and record producer who is best known as a member of the rock-pop-jazz group Blood, Sweat & Tears. Katz was an original member of the rock bands The Blues Project and American Flyer. As a p ...

(born 1945), American musician :* Steven T. Katz (born 1944), Jewish philosopher :*

Steven A. Katz Steven Katz (born October 8, 1959) is an American writer best known for his work on ''Shadow of the Vampire''. He received a B. A. in English and Art History from Brown University in 1982 and an M. A. in English from Columbia University in 1984 ...

(born 1959), writer of the screenplay ''Shadow of the Vampire'' :* Steve Katz (politician) (born 1953), veterinarian and member of the New York State Assembly :* Stephen Katz (writer) (1946–2005), American teacher and screenwriter :*Stephen Katz (real name Matthew Angerer), traveling companion of travel writer Bill Bryson :* Stephen M. Katz (cinematographer) *

Sky Katz ''Raven's Home'' is an American family sitcom television series developed by Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas that premiered on Disney Channel on July 21, 2017. The series stars Raven-Symoné, Issac Ryan Brown, Navia Robinson, Jason Maybaum, Sky Kat ...

, American rapper and actress * Tamar Katz, Israeli figure skater living in the United States * Tuvia Katz (born 1936), Israeli artist * Vera Katz (1933–2017), American politician *

Welwyn Wilton Katz Welwyn Wilton Katz (born June 7, 1948) is a Canadian children's author who has lived in Kitchener and Toronto, Ontario. In 1994 she was awarded the Vicky Metcalf Award. She currently lives in London, Ontario. She gave an interview. Works *'' ...

, Canadian children's author *

William Loren Katz William Loren Katz (June 2, 1927 – October 25, 2019) was an American teacher, historian, and author of 40 books on African-American history, including a number of titles for young adult readers. He was particularly noted for his research and wri ...

(1927–2019), American historian, specializing in African American history *

Yossi Katz Yossi Katz ( he, יוסי כץ, born 19 August 1949) is an Israeli former politician who served as a member of the Knesset for the Labor Party and One Israel between 1992 and 2003. Biography Born in Haifa, Katz studied law at the Hebrew Unive ...

, Israeli politician *

Yossi Katz (geographer) Yossi Katz is professor emeritus at the Bar-Ilan University, an expert in historical geography. His main research interests include Jewish settlement in towns and villages in the new era, settlemental, economic, political and cultural aspects of ...

, Israeli professor in political geography * Zebra Katz, American rapper

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Katz German-language surnames Ashkenazi surnames Kohenitic surnames Yiddish-language surnames Surnames from nicknames de:Katz it:Katz he:כץ