Biography Philipp Valentin Christoph Kantz

Philipp Valentin Christoph Kantz

ETYMOLOGY OF THE NAME

a) "Kantz" is derived from the diminutive for Konrad, "Kunz" or "Kunze". Further:

"German: from the Germanic personal name Konrad, composed of the elements kuoni 'daring', 'experienced' + rād, rāt 'counsel'. This fell together at an early date with another Germanic name, of which the first element was chunni, kuni 'race', 'people'. Konrad was extremely popular as a personal name in central Europe during the Middle Ages, being a hereditary name in several princely families as well as enjoying widespread popularity among the people at large. It was also adopted as a surname by Ashkenazic Jews, Slovenians, and others."

---Patrick Hanks ed., Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford University Press, 2006)

"Kantz" existed simultaneously as a diminutive and as a surname from a very early date; e.g., the Lutheran theologian Kaspar Kantz (c. 1483 – 1544) (no relation).

b)"...nickname for someone with a bull neck, from the dialect word kanz 'upper part of the neck', 'scruff'."

---ibid.

Kanz is obsolete and most Germans would not know the word.

3

ALZEY AND HESSEN AT THE TIME OF PHILIPP VALENTIN KANTZ' DEPARTURE

In 1871, the year Philipp Kantz left Germany, the formal name of Alzey was Großherzoglich Kreisamt Alzey ("Ducal District Administration of Alzey").

Siegel Kreisvermessungsamt

The formal name of the region then was Großherzogtum Hessen und bei Rhein ("the Grand-Duchy of Hessen"); the three words und bei Rhein mean "and by/on the Rhein" and are generally not rendered into English.

In the 19th Cent. the toponym was translated as "Hessen" but the present EU custom is to leave it untranslated: Hesse.

There were two Hessens: Hesse-Kassel (annexed to Westphalia in 1806) and Hesse-Darmstadt (the one of interest here). Kassel and Darmstadt (25 miles/41km from Alzey) were the capitals.

Wappen und Flagge von Großherzogtum Hessen und bei Rhein 1806-1918

Hessenlied

Text: Carl Preser (1828 - 1910), Music: Albrecht Brede (1834 - 1920)

Shortened "Federal Republic" version

Ich kenne ein Land, so reich und so schön,
voll goldener Ähren die Felder,
dort grünen im Tal bis zu sonnigen Höh'n
viel dunkle duftige Wälder.
Dort hab' ich als Kind an der Mutter Hand
in Blüten und Blumen gesessen.
Ich grüß dich du Heimat, du herrliches Land!
Herz Deutschlands, mein blühendes Hessenland.

Vom Main bis zur Weser, Werra und Lahn,
ein Land voller blühender Auen
dort glänzen die Städte, die alle wir sah'n,
sind herrlich im Lichte zu schauen.
Dort hab' ich als Kind an der Mutter Hand
in Blüten und Blumen gesessen.
Ich grüß dich du Heimat, du herrliches Land!
Herz Deutschlands, mein blühendes Hessenland.

I know a country, so rich and so beautiful
full of golden sheaves in the fields,
from green in the valley to sunny heights
many dark fragrant woods.
There, I have a child at her mother's hand
sitting amidst blossoms and flowers.
I salute you, Homeland, you magnificent country!
Heart of Germany, Hesse my flowering country.

From the Main to the Weser, Werra and Lahn,
a country full of blooming meadows
there, shine the cities that we could behold,
gorgeous to see in the light.
There, I have a child at her mother's hand
sitting amidst blossoms and flowers.
I salute you, Homeland, you magnificent country!
Heart of Germany, Hesse my flowering country.