Tanzer Family History

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 and German tanzen ‘to dance’ (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.

English (Derbyshire): variant of Tanser a habitational name from Tansor (Northamptonshire).

The placename probably derives from an Old English personal name Tān (genitive Tānes) + Old English ōfer ‘bank’.

This form of the surname is rare in Britain and Ireland.