Danzig - Name

Recorded in several forms including Danzig, Danziger, Danzke, Dantzger, Danzelman, Danzelmann, Danzmann, Tanzmann and possibly others, this is a surname of Germanic origins. It is locational and describes an inhabitant or former inhabitant of the city of Danzig, one of th famous Baltic ports. Locational surnames by their very nature are often 'from' names. That is to say names given to people as identification, with the easiest way being to called them by the name of the place from whence they came. In the case of Danzig, the port was so important and so well known throught the trading world, that it was inevitable that many surnames should develop from it. In addition the medieval period was when most surnames were being created, and whilst industry and commerce was making great strides, languages themselves were in state of great change, and hence spelling itself was very erratic. In this case though the name is one of the earliest on the German lists with Johan de Danzk appearing in the registers of Colberg in 1266, Walterus Tanziler in the city of Reutligen in 1267, and Nickelaus Tantzmann in Gorlitz in 1466. Other recordings taken at random include Gergius Danzmann of Halles in 1501, and Heinriche Dantzker of Greben in 1660.