Lentz

Lentz is a surname of German origin. It is typically a patronymic form derived from the given name Lenz, a medieval German personal name. The spelling has varied regionally, yielding several cognate forms such as Lenze, Lents, and Lenz. The distribution of Lentz reflects historical German-speaking communities, with concentrations in Germany and in countries with German diaspora such as the United States, Canada, and parts of Europe. Immigration in the 19th and early 20th centuries contributed to its spread, particularly to Midwestern and western states in the United States.

Examples of how the name has appeared in records include civil registries, naturalization papers, and telephone directories, reflecting typical patterns of surname transmission. The name is used by people across professions, and it appears in cultural contexts as a family name for individuals and fictional characters.

Variants exist due to transliteration and regional dialect differences. See also related names Lenz, Lenze, and Lents for genealogical clarification.