schutz

Schutz is a surname of German origin and also a common noun in German meaning protection or defense. The noun derives from the verb schützen, meaning “to protect.” As a surname, Schutz has arisen from occupational or descriptive roots, or from toponymic origins associated with guarding or shielding.

The most prominent historical figure bearing the related form Schütz is Heinrich Schütz (1585–1672), a German composer of the early Baroque period. Schütz is regarded as one of the most important German composers before Johann Sebastian Bach. His sacred and secular vocal works helped establish the German Baroque musical language and influenced later composers.

In English-language usage, Schutz appears as a variant spelling when diacritics are omitted from Schütz. The form Schutz is also a surname carried by many individuals in German-speaking and other countries. In German, Schutz occurs in various compounds and place-names, reflecting the underlying noun meaning of protection in historical and contemporary contexts.