KreUTz

Kreutz is a German-language surname and a toponymic place name. It derives from the Middle High German word kreuz meaning cross, with Kreutz representing a historical spelling variant or dialectal form. The naming likely reflects a geographical feature such as a cross-shaped landmark, a crossroads, or a dedication to a cross or crucifix.

As a surname, Kreutz is found primarily in German-speaking countries and among descendants of emigrants in North America and other regions. It is considered a variant of Kreuz, and its bearers may have originated from places associated with crosses or from communities that used the cross as a symbol.

In toponymy, Kreutz appears in several place names and in references to landmarks bearing crosses, such as wayside crosses, churches, or hilltop crosses, within German-speaking areas. The form can appear with different spellings in historical records due to shifts in orthography and regional pronunciation.

Spelling variants include Kreuz, Kreutz, and other historical forms; modern standard German often uses Kreuz for the common noun 'cross,' while Kreutz survives in surnames and some local place names.

The name is treated as part of genealogical and historical research involving German surnames and regional toponymy.