Schatz is both a German surname meaning "treasure" or "treasury" (the name may be ornamental or occupational, as in a town treasurer), and (more commonly) a Jewish surname meaning cantor.
The latter version of "Schatz" or "Shatz" is a Hebrew acronym for "shaliach tzibbur", lit. "emissary of the congregation", i.e., the person who happens to be leading the prayers in synagogue. In small congregations, this may be a learned layman, while in larger synagogues, this is generally a (semi) professional cantor.
The term "Schatz" is also used as a term of endearment in German-speaking countries, comparable to "Honey" or "Darling" in English.
Some people with the surname Schatz or Shatz:
- Aaron Schatz, NFL analyst and creator of the website Football Outsiders
- Albert Schatz (disambiguation), multiple people
- Boris Schatz, founder of Bezalel Academy
- Carsten Schatz
- Donny Schatz
- George C. Schatz, American theoretical chemist
- Ilene Kristen, (born Ilene Schatz)
- Jerry Tucker, (born Jerome H. Schatz)
- Lydia Schatz, Liberian-American girl, killed by her own parents
- Mark Schatz, musician
- Mike Schatz
- Paul Schatz, (1898–1979), a sculptor, inventor and mathematician
- Roman Schatz, German-born Finnish television presenter and writer
- Thomas "Tommy" Rivera Schatz,President of the Senate of Puerto Rico
- Warren Schatz
- Zahara Schatz, Israeli fine and decorative artist