Schultheiß

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In medieval Germany, the Schultheiß (Middle High German: Schultheize, latinised: Scultetus; in Switzerland: Schultheiss; also: Schulthies, Schulte or Schulze) was the head of a municipality (akin to today's office of mayor), a Vogt or an executive official of the ruler.

As official (villicus) it was his duty to order his assigned village or county (villicatio) to pay the taxes and perform the services due to the ruler. The name "Schultheiß" originates from this function: "Schuld" (debt) and "heißen" (to order).

Later, the title was also used for the head of a town (Stadtschultheiß) or village (Schulze).

[edit] Modern use

Today, "Schultheiss" is still the title of the president of the government of the Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland.

"Schultheiß" is also the base for one of the most common German last names, which exists in many variations such as Schulz, Schulze, Schulte, Schulthies, Schulthess, or Shultis (as an Anglicized version in the USA) corresponding to the local variants of the pronunciation of the office.

In Poland, village chiefs are also known as Sołtys.