Excerpted from a 1968 compilation of Lance sources by Walter D. Lantz, 
bookseller, of Sadsburyville, PA

This surname is evidently of military origin.  In the French spelling it is 
for the lancers, the inner-armed guard with pikes, as is the case also for the 
English.  The Lantz spelling is an abbreviated form of the German Landsknecht,
knecht meaning knight, supreme protector of the Native country and its king or
prince.  The name had many different spellings during the early colonial period
in America, as was the case with numerous other names, English and otherwise.
Some of the variants of record have it, although mostly Lance or Lantz; 
Lants, Lans, Lanz, Lantze and in Ireland Irishized endings such as Lancely, 
and Lancegarver.  With regard then to the prevalence of the spelling of the name
with the French variation, at the time of the immigration to London and for most
of their descendants, it could be assumed that these originated close by the 
banks of the Rhine River, allowing even close relatives along either east or 
west bank a choice of spelling the name.  This practive continued down through
the generation in America, for the record reads both ways for some, in others 
the father has taken Lance and the sons Lantz, likewise for brothers and sisters.

This bibliography, furthermore, concerns itself mostly with the history of the 
Lance/Lantz family who are descendants of Chrisophers Lance/Lantz (he used both
spellings), who was born in 1749 most probably in Sussex County, New Jersey, 
the son of or more likely grandson of the emigrants of 1709-14 from Germany.
Since no records of Christopher's predecessors have turned up yet, the assumption
that he is of the third generation is fairly safe to be made.  The American 
Revolution and the War of 1812, fought mostly on New Jersey soil, destroyed 
nearly all records.  Christopher married Sarah Johnson in Sussex County in 1778
of record.  They had 6 sons and 6 daughters.  About 1794 the whole family 
migrated to the Ohio territory with other New Jersey families and settled what
later became Steubenville, Ohio and where the first land office, 1800, after 
Marietta, was set up.  Upon maturity, 5 of the sons and 6 daughters established
themselves in Wayne County, O. Eldest son, Peter, remained home in Jefferson 
County.  The name-choice for Peter's descendants became Lantz with his widow, 
and by two fo the four sons and two of the three daughters.

Genealogies:

Lance/Lantz Famikly Genealogy.  By Otto A. Moore.  Oregon 16 (Toledo), Ohio.  
1899, from the first family runion and currently to date.  Typewritten, 
loose-leaf postbinder.  Public copy on file at Wayne County Public Library, 
Wooster, Ohio.  Compilation of births, marriages and deaths beginning with 
Christopher Lance (1749-1824) and his wife Sarah Johnson and their 6 sons 
and 6 daughters, located first in Sussex County, New Jersey and from 1795 
in Jefferson, Harrison, Wayne and Medina Counties, Ohio.

(transcriber's note: I have copied and transcribed all of the information from this
book for the Henry Lance and Sarah (Lance) Lee families - see my Descendants List.)

A Genealogical Survey.  Descendants of Christopher and Sarah Johnson Lance 
through their son, Henry, and his son, William J. Lance, Wayne County, Ohio.  
By Bertha Lance Gasser and Adeline Lance Gastrell.  32 pp.  Sterling, O., 1962.

Lance/Lantz Family.  Descendants of Christopher (1749-1824) and Sarah (Johnson)
Lantz/Lance of Sussex County, N.J. and Jefferson County, Ohio.  Typewritten 
copy, 1964-1968, public copies on file at Ohio State Library, Columbus; 
Cadiz Public Library, Cadiz, Ohio; and Wayne Couinty Library, Wooster, Ohio.  
Compiled by Walter D. Lantz.

Biographical and local history:

History of Wayne County, Ohio.  By Benjamin Douglass.  Indianapolis, 1878.

Commemorative Biographical Record of Wayne County, Ohio.  By Beers Co., Chicago, 1889.

History of Wayne County, Ohio.  By Bowen & Co.  2 vols.  Indianapolis, 1910.