Surname Gailfuß - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Gailfuß: What does the surname Gailfuß mean?
Gailfuß is an old German surname derived from the old Germanic language, meaning 'servant of the foreign gods'. There is debate around the exact origin of the Gailfuß surname, but it is believed to have emerged in Germany during the late Middle Ages and was likely used as a marker of status.
The original German spelling of the name is Gailfuss, but it has also been found in some records as Gelffuss, Gellfuss, Geelvuss, Gelfoss, Gelfuss, Geelvus, Gelfuß and Georgeffus.
In general, Gailfuß appears to have been a hereditary surname, as it was used to designate hereditary military or professional roles. For example, in a record from 1394, Peter Gelfuß was listed as an 'officer of the city marshal of Erfurt'. After that, it became a sign of nobility in some areas of Germany.
Today, Gailfuß is a relatively rare surname found primarily in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, although there are some instances of it in other parts of the world, such as the United States, where a few Gailfuss families have settled over the years.
The man formerly known as Ferdinand Gailfuß, an Austrian painter, lived in the first half of the nineteenth century. He is mostly remembered for his genre painting, often referred to as 'Biedermeier'.
Order DNA origin analysisGailfuß: Where does the name Gailfuß come from?
The last name Gailfuß is common today primarily in Germany and other parts of Europe. It is an occupational last name, derived from the Middle High German word “gailvus,” which refers to a person or family of falconers or hawkers. In the Middle Ages, falconry was a common sport in Germany and a popular way for wealthy nobles to pass the time.
Gailfuß is most prevalent today in the German states of Saxony, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Lower Saxony. Additionally, it is found in small numbers in Austria, Switzerland, France, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Poland, and Slovakia.
In the 1990s, there were 507 Gailfußs living in Germany, with the highest populations found in West Berlin, Münster, Weiden, Munich, and the cities of Stuttgart, Homburg, and Dusseldorf. The name is relatively uncommon in the United States, where it has only been recorded in small numbers since the 1930s.
The English translation of Gailfuß is 'gill-foot,' and the surname is more often spelled Gailfuss in America. It is also sometimes translated as Golefops.
Variations of the surname Gailfuß
The surname Gailfuß is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word gal, meaning “ode” or “song”. Variants of the name include: Geilfuss, Gayl, Gaylfuss, Gaillfuss, Gailyfuss, Gaullfuss, Gaulfuss, Galfuss, Gelffuss, Gelfuss, Gehlfuss, and Gaal.
In some cases, the surname can also be found spelled with a double “l”. Variant spellings include Gayllfuss, Gaallfuss, Gaullfuss, Gailffuss, Gallyfuss, Gaelyfuss, Gaeelfuss, Gaehlfuss, and Gaulyfuss.
The surname is also sometimes found with the more common German endings, such as “-er” or “-el”. Variants with these endings can be seen in Geiler, Geilner, Geilpel, Geilele, Gayler, Gaylnar, Gaylpel, Gaylele, Gailyer, Gailyner, Gailypel, and Gailyle.
Common surnames that are related to the Gailfuß family include Geil, Gaell, Gayl, Gel, Gehl, Gehlp, Gelp, Gelf, Gehlf, Gehlff, and Gaal. There are other smaller variants as well, such as Gaylpel, Gagaal, Gaalel, Gaylh, Gaalh, Gayll, and Gaull.
In Austria, there are some variations of the Gailfuß surname such as Gaylinfuss, Gaylhofer, Geillhofer, Gelhofer, Geilhofer, Gaillhofer, Gaalhofer, Gailhofer, and Geyliker.
Famous people with the name Gailfuß
1.Anna Gailfuß: German actress 2.Mick Gailfuß: former professional footballer 3.Ken Gailfuß: American soap opera and film actor 4.Scott Gailfuß: German politician 5.Heinz Gailfuß: German actor 6.Friedrich Gailfuß: German film actor 7.Stephan Gailfuß: German author 8.Heidi Gailfuß: German stage and film actress 9.Juliane Gailfuß: German singer-songwriter 10.Anna-Lena Gailfuß: German tennis player