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Updated June 9, 2019

Family name origins & meanings

  • German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) : nickname for a skilled or enthusiastic dancer, or, as a German name, an occupational name for a professional acrobat, from an agent derivative of Middle High German, German tanzen ‘to dance’ (from Old French danser; the initial t- is the result of hypercorrection of a presumed Low German form). Among Jews, the name may have been taken by Chasidim, since members of this branch of Jewry (which arose in the 18th century) place great emphasis on dancing, and in some cases the name may have been ornamental.

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