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The Montz Family of Louisiana 1721 - Present

 
 

by Monty Montz

 
 

Page 34

 

Wagespack), Foltz, (now Folse), Huber (now Oubre), Lesh (now Liche), Weber (now Webre and Fabre), Zehringer (now Zeriguq), Wichner (now Vicknair) , Schaf (now Chauffe), Trischi (now Triche), Sdschneider (now Schexnaydre) Zweig (now LaBranche) derived from the fact that the word "Zweig" in German means "La Branche" in French; Manz (now Montz) and others, The German names were changed to French because many French people came to live there and the French Language prevailed. (46)

FROM THE INDICATIONS STATED, IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE first settler (or settlers) named "Manz" could not read or write, but were tradesmen or farmers knowing only what was necessary to make a living. For, had they been able to read and write, they would have able to pronounce, spell, and read their names correctly as written in the German language.

FROM THE FACT THAT AS DEILER STATED, THE FIRST EARLIEST recordings of St. John the Baptist Church was Anton Manz. From this, it might be suggested that the earliest "Manz" generations came from Strassbourg, and that during the recordings of the Church or census records in Louisiana, the name was changed and picked up in several ways, and finally ended up as "Montz."

THERE IS A CITY IN SOUTHWESTERN GERMANY BY THE NAME, "Mainz."  It could be speculated here that prior to 1721, possibly many families came from this city whose name was similar or possibly the same as the name of a city, town, or other familiar name.  "Manz" comes pretty., close to spelling, "Mainz." In earlier times, as mentioned surnames took the name of some familiar item. Therefore from the venturing from Europe in 1721 to today, the name "Montz" may have had as many as seven name changes.  And possibly the name "Manz" originated from the name "Mainz."

TODAY, HOWEVER, THE UNIVERSAL NAME, "MONTZ" IS ASSOCIATED with the people who came from Louisiana and who are not descendents of Creole ancestry. There are other families living in America by the name of "Montz" who are not direct descendents from anyone from Louisiana.

AGAIN, THE QUESTION ARISES? WHAT'S IN A NAME? "MANZ" COULD easily have been "Moritz," "Smith," Jones" or "Jervoicksowitz." But, the tradition and generation off born to a family possesses traits, and these are the important things to carry from generation to generation.

46 Eyraud, p. 319

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