Surname Geiße - Meaning and Origin
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Geiße: What does the surname Geiße mean?
Geiße is a German surname, likely originating from the Middle High German word “Geyse,” which refers to a young goat. One theory is that the surname was given to those who kept and raised goats, possibly as a professional or hobby. It is also possible that the name could have been used to describe someone who acted like a young goat, meaning mischievous or adventurous.
The Geiße surname is found mainly in Germany, and also in the US, where it was likely brought by German immigrants. Early records of people with the Geiße surname date back to the 1400s in Germany, when many families were given surnames to differentiate themselves.
In modern times, the Geiße surname is associated with being humble, working hard, and having a strong sense of community. It also implies loyalty and commitment, as indicated by the saying “Der Geiße hält sich immer an das Gehöft,” which translates to “The goat always stays at the farm,” meaning that someone with the surname would remain loyal and committed to the place they call home.
For many Geiße families, the surname brings a sense of pride and belonging to their family and their country. It serves as a reminder of not just their roots but also how far their family has come, with the perseverance and dedication that comes with the name.
Order DNA origin analysisGeiße: Where does the name Geiße come from?
The last name Geiße is most common today in Germany and Austria. The name is related to the German word “geißen”, meaning to bawl or cry out, and may have originally been used to describe a person who had a distinctive, loud voice. In some cases, the name might also been used as a nickname to refer to a person who kept goats.
In Germany, the name is most populous in Bavaria, with isolated pockets in scattered regions throughout the country. In Austria, the name is most common in the Southern and Western states (Salzburg, Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Upper Austria).
Today, people who may share the surname Geiße likely come from a common ancestor who lived in Central Europe in the latter half of the 19th century. As the 19th century passed, people with the Geiße name gradually spread throughout Germany and Austria, with some immigrating to other parts of Europe or to the United States.
In the United States, immigrants with the name Geiße are most common in the Northeast, Midwest, and West Coast regions, with the states of Pennsylvania and Wisconsin being particularly popular destinations. Furthermore, it is likely that some individuals with the Geiße last name may also identify with other countries of origin such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, as a result of strong Central European immigration into those countries.
Variations of the surname Geiße
The surname Geiße has numerous possible spellings and variants, as well as other surnames with similar origins. Geiße is derived from the German word for “goat” or “billy goat”, and is sometimes spelled as Geisse, Geísse, Gäise, Gäys, Gys, Gysse, or Gäysse. In addition, surnames such as Geyse, Geise, Geysen, Geizen, Gise, Geyser, Geizel, Gints, Geizenberger, Giess, and Geyserin are associated with the same origin.
The original derivation of these surnames is from the Middle High German word ‘gise’, which is believed to be an occupational name for a goat herdsman, or an ironic nickname for a stubborn or disagreeable person.
In many parts of Europe, the surname is associated with immigrants from the Palatinate, a region in southwest Germany. In some cases, the name was derived from the personal name Gütz, which is the Germanized form of the Latin personal name ‘Gudzo’.
The occurrence of the surname is extremely sparse throughout Germany, with other countries housing more instances of Geiße or its variations. In Switzerland, the surname spreads over four regions in the country, and in the United States, the surname is primarily concentrated in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and New York.
Today, a number of alternative spellings of the surname can be found spread across Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Canada, likely due to immigration over the centuries.
Famous people with the name Geiße
- Wolfgang Gieße (1941-2015): German singer-songwriter.
- Norbert Gieße (1930-2016): German Roman Catholic priest and magazine editor.
- Manfred Gieße (born 1942): German actor, screenwriter, and producer.
- Reinhard Gieße (born 1942): German theologian and author.
- Hannes Gieße (born 1983): German footballer.
- Anke Gieße (born 1960): German artistic gymnast.
- Johannes Gieße (born 1929): German politician.
- Frank Gieße (born 1954): German lawyer and politician.
- Jürgen Gieße (born 1945): German racing driver.
- Christian Gieße (born 1967): German footballer.
- Felix Gieße (born 1982): German figure skater.
- Eva Geiss (born 1980): German television presenter and actress.
- Isa Gieße (1919-2008): German author and playwright.
- Bert Gieße (1908-1945): German railway director.
- Wilhelm Gieße (1878-1945): German general.
- Heinrich Gieße (1910-1945): German officer in the Wehrmacht.