35,215 Global Katz Family Members

Katz Family History

Recorded in many forms including Katz, Katzmann, Katzel, and locational compounds such as Katzberg, Katzberger, Katzbach, Katzenbach, Katzenmeir, Katzenschwanz, Katzensteig and others, this is a ancient German surname. It may also be Askenasic, although the origin is the same. The base form as Katz derives from a fused form or acronym of "kohen tsedek" meaning a priest, or literally a priest of righteousness! It has also been suggested that the name may derive from the word "katsin" meaning "the rich one", which given the robust humour of the medieval period when the surname was first recorded, does not seem an unreasonable explanation.