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 , native_name_lang = de , region1 = , pop1 = 72,650,269 , region2 = , pop2 = 534,000 , region3 = , pop3 = 157,000 3,322,405 , region4 = , pop4 = ...

with the last name Katz may originate in the

Rhine River ), Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland , source1_coordinates= , source1_elevation = , source2 = Rein Posteriur/Hinterrhein , source2_location = Paradies Glacier, Graubünden, Switzerland , source2_coordinates= , sourc ...

region of

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

, where the

Katz Castle Katz Castle (german: Burg Katz) is a castle above the German town of St. Goarshausen in Rhineland-Palatinate. The castle stands on a ledge looking downstream from the riverside at St. Goar. It was first built around 1371 by Count William II of ...

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 The Chatti (also Chatthi or Catti) were an ancient Germanic tribe whose homeland was near the upper Weser (''Visurgis''). They lived in central and northern Hesse and southern Lower Saxony, along the upper reaches of that river and in the valle ...

and Melibokus.) Where it is a

Jewish surname Jewish surnames are family names used by Jews and those of Jewish origin. Jewish surnames are thought to be of comparatively recent origin; the first known Jewish family names date to the Middle Ages, in the 10th and 11th centuries CE. Jews have ...

, ''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 Patrilineality, also known as the male line, the spear side or agnatic kinship, is a common kinship system in which an individual's family membership derives from and is recorded through their father's lineage. It generally involves the inheritanc ...

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 In the Bible, Melchizedek (, hbo, , malkī-ṣeḏeq, "king of righteousness" or "my king is righteousness"), also transliterated Melchisedech or Malki Tzedek, was the king of Salem and priest of (often translated as "most high God"). He is f ...

'' ("king of righteousness"), who is called "the priest (''kohen'') of the most high God" (

Genesis Genesis may refer to: Bible * Book of Genesis, the first book of the biblical scriptures of both Judaism and Christianity, describing the creation of the Earth and of mankind * Genesis creation narrative, the first several chapters of the Book of ...

xiv. 18), or perhaps from

Psalm The Book of Psalms ( or ; he, תְּהִלִּים, , lit. "praises"), also known as the Psalms, or the Psalter, is the first book of the ("Writings"), the third section of the Tanakh, and a book of the Old Testament. The title is derived ...

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 The history of the Jews in Germany goes back at least to the year 321, and continued through the Early Middle Ages (5th to 10th centuries CE) and High Middle Ages (''circa'' 1000–1299 CE) when Jewish immigrants founded the Ashkenazi Jewish ...

in the 18th or 19th century. If the reading is correct, this abbreviation occurs on a tombstone, dated 1536, in the

cemetery A cemetery, burial ground, gravesite or graveyard is a place where the remains of dead people are buried or otherwise interred. The word ''cemetery'' (from Greek , "sleeping place") implies that the land is specifically designated as a buri ...

Prague Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 million people. The city has a temperate ...

. It is found also on a tombstone of the year 1618 in

Frankfurt Frankfurt, officially Frankfurt am Main (; Hessian: , "Frank ford on the Main"), is the most populous city in the German state of Hesse. Its 791,000 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located on its na ...

, in the books of the Soncino family of

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 Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...

, 1663).

People

Ada Katz Ada Katz (born May 30, 1928 in the Bronx, New York) is the wife and model of Alex Katz. Perhaps best known for appearing in over 1000 of her husband's paintings including '' Black Dress'' (1960), Katz was also a Biologist at Sloan Kettering, as w ...

(born 1928), American artist's model * Albert Katz (1858–1923), writer *

Alex Katz Alex Katz (born July 24, 1927) is an American figurative artist known for his paintings, sculptures, and prints. Early life and career Alex Katz was born July 24, 1927, to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York, as the son of an émigré who ha ...

(born 1927), American artist * Alex Katz (baseball) (born 1994), American baseball player *

Allan Katz Allan Katz (born in Chicago, Illinois) is an American writer, producer, actor, and director. He began his writing career as an advertising copywriter. In 1970 he created the original award-winning campaign for the popcorn snack Screaming Yell ...

(born 1941), American comedy writer * Allan J. Katz (born 1947), American ambassador to Portugal *

Amir Katz Amir Katz, born 1973 in Ramat Gan, Israel, is an Israeli German pianist. He began to play the piano at the age of 11 and won his first national competitions in Israel four years later. He received scholarships to study in Europe, including at the ...

(born 1973), Israeli-born musician *

Andy Katz Andrew D. Katz (born April 7, 1968) is a college basketball analyst for the Big Ten Network and a college basketball correspondent for the NCAA. He formerly worked as a senior college basketball journalist for ESPN.com, and was a regular spor ...

(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 (born 1947), American computer scientist * Burt Katz (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 Dovid Katz (Yiddish: , also , Hirshe-Dovid Kats, , born 9 May 1956) is an American-born, Vilnius-based scholar, author and educator, specializing in Yiddish language and literature, Lithuanian Jewish culture, and the Holocaust in Eastern Europe. ...

, Lithuanian-American Yiddishist and academic *

Elias Katz Elias Katz (June 22, 1901 – December 26, 1947) was a Finnish track and field athlete, who competed mainly in the 3000 metres steeplechase. Katz was born in Turku to a Jewish family. He frequented local nightclubs, participated in dance mar ...

, 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 Elihu Katz (Hebrew: אליהוא כ"ץ, 21 May 1926 – 31 December 2021) was an American and Israeli sociologist and communication scientist, usually associated with uses and gratifications theory. He is known for his work with Paul Lazarsfel ...

, 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 Ethan Russell Katz (born July 4, 1983) is an American professional baseball coach, and former minor league baseball player. He is the pitching coach for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). Prior to that, Katz served as the assi ...

(born 1983), American assistant pitching coach for the San Francisco Giants * Gary Katz, American music producer *

Haim Katz Haim Katz ( he, חַיִּים כַּץ, born 21 December 1947) is an Israeli politician. He currently serves as the Minister of Tourism. Katz was the Minister of Labor, Welfare and Social Services from 2015 to 2019, and served as a member of t ...

, 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 Ian Alexander Katz (born 9 February 1968) is a British journalist and broadcasting executive who is currently Chief Content Officer at Channel 4, overseeing all editorial decision making and commissioning across Channel 4's linear channels, str ...

, British journalist (born in South Africa) * Israel Katz, Israeli politician *

Jackson Katz Jackson T. Katz (born May 7, 1960) is an American educator, filmmaker, and author. He has created a gender violence prevention and education program entitled 'Mentors in Violence Prevention', which is used by U.S. military and various sporting or ...

, 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), name/pseudonym for several people * Jeff Katz, American film producer and comic book author * Jeffrey Owen Katz, American scientist * Jeffry Katz, American music producer *

Jerrold Katz Jerrold Jacob Katz (14 July 19327 February 2002) was an American philosopher and linguist. Biography After receiving a PhD in philosophy from Princeton University in 1960, Katz became a Research Associate in Linguistics at the Massachusetts Ins ...

, American philosopher and linguist * Joanne Katz, 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 Jon Katz (born August 8, 1947) is an American journalist, author, and photographer. He was a contributor to the online magazine ''HotWired'', the technology website ''Slashdot'', and the online news magazine ''Slate''. In his early career as an au ...

(born 1947), American journalist and writer *

Jonathan Katz Jonathan Paul Katz (born December 1, 1946) is an American actor and comedian best known for his starring role in the animated sitcom ''Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist'' as Dr. Katz. He also is known for voicing Erik Robbins in the UPN/Adult Swi ...

(born 1946), American comedian, actor, and voice actor *

Jonathan David Katz Jonathan David Katz (born 1958) is an American activist, art historian, educator and writer. He is currently Associate Professor of Practice in Art History and Gender, Sexuality & Women's Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Biography Ka ...

(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 Elizabeth Katz (born July 8, 1988) is an American cosplayer, actress, model and ex-pornographic actress. Early life Katz was born on July 8, 1988 and raised in Randolph, New Jersey. She attributes her love of gaming to simply being how she was ...

, American cosplayer and actress whose credits include

Guest House A guest house (also guesthouse) is a kind of lodging. In some parts of the world (such as the Caribbean), guest houses are a type of inexpensive hotel-like lodging. In others, it is a private home that has been converted for the exclusive use o ...

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) *

Maxim Katz Maxim Yevgenyevich Katz (russian: Макси́м Евге́ньевич Кац; born 23 December 1984) is a Russian political and public figure, co-founder of the Urban Projects Foundation, author of the YouTube channel of the same name, Russ ...

, Russian politician and activist * Mickey Katz, American comedian and musician *

Mike Katz Michael Katz (born November 14, 1944) is a former American IFBB professional bodybuilder and former professional football player with the New York Jets, most famous for his appearance with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1977 bodybuilding docum ...

, 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 Nets Hawk Katz is the IBM Professor of Mathematics at the California Institute of Technology. He was a professor of Mathematics at Indiana University Bloomington until March 2013. Katz earned a B.A. in mathematics from Rice University in 1990 at t ...

, 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 Omri Haim Katz (born May 30, 1976) is a retired American actor. His television and film credits include ''Eerie Indiana'', ''Matinee (1993 film), Matinee'', ''Adventures in Dinosaur City'', ''Hocus Pocus (1993 film), Hocus Pocus'', and the soap o ...

, 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 Phillip Walter Katz (November 3, 1962 – April 14, 2000) was a computer programmer best known as the co-creator of the Zip file format for data compression, and the author of PKZIP, a program for creating zip files that ran under DOS. A c ...

, American computer programmer *

Phoebe Cates Phoebe Belle Cates Kline (born July 16, 1963) is an American former actress, known primarily for her roles in films such as ''Fast Times at Ridgemont High'' (1982), ''Gremlins'' (1984) and ''Drop Dead Fred'' (1991). Early life Cates was born ...

(born Phoebe Belle Katz), American actress *

Ralph Katz Ralph Katz (born 1957) is an American bridge player. Katz is from Burr Ridge, Illinois and graduated from University of Steubenville. In 2018 he was a first-ballot selection for the ACBL Hall of Fame. Domestically, he has won 23 North American B ...

, 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, 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, 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 William McGuire Bryson (; born 8 December 1951) is an American–British journalist and author. Bryson has written a number of nonfiction books on topics including travel, the English language, and science. Born in the United States, he has b ...

:* 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 Tamar Katz ( he, תמר כץ, born September 26, 1989 ) is an Israeli-American former competitive figure skater. She is the 2005, 2007, and 2008 Israeli national champion. Personal life Tamar Katz was born September 26, 1989 in Dallas, Texas. The ...

, Israeli figure skater living in the United States *

Tuvia Katz Tuvia Katz (born 1936) is an Israeli artist. Tuvia Katz was born in Poland to a traditional family. To escape the Nazis, his family fled Europe and settled in Argentina. In 1960, Katz immigrated to Israel and settled on Kibbutz Hokuk. At the age o ...

(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

People

See also

References