Surname Geisler - Meaning and Origin

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I. Geisler

Geisler: What does the surname Geisler mean?

The surname Geisler is of German origin and is derived from the middle High German “gisil,” meaning “hostage,” which is likely in reference to one who held or was owed a “gisil” (a pledged payment). During the Middle Ages, it was customary for wealthy families to use hostages as security for exchanging gifts and tributes.

This surname is most commonly found in Southern Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. In records, it is often found spelled Geissler, Geyseler, Guyseler, and other variants.

In the United States, the earliest recorded use of this surname dates back to the 1700s in Pennsylvania and Maryland. These settlers had likely emigrated from their homeland of Germany.

In some instances, the name Geisler could also be of Jewish Ashkenazic origin, derived from the German word "gehl," meaning "split wood," and was likely an occupational name for a woodsman.

Therefore, the surname Geisler could have a variety of meanings ranging from “hostage” to “woodsman.” Regardless of what it signified to its original bearer, it is clear that the surname Geisler is a historically significant and multi-faceted name that is both Germanic and Jewish in origin.

Geisler: Where does the name Geisler come from?

The last name Geisler is most commonly found in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. A 2014 study by the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research at the University of Mainz found that the Geisler surname was especially concentrated in the Baden-Württemberg region of Germany, where 41 percent of the country's population with this name resided.

In addition, it is not uncommon to find individuals with the Geisler name in the United States and Canada. For example, the 2000 United States Census found that Geisler was the 4,337th most popular surname nationwide, with approximately 5,891 individuals bearing this lastname. This number was likely greater in total as those who wrote the census were obliged to give census takers a surname, even if it was not their legal name.

In terms of immigrant populations in the United States and Canada, it is likely that a higher concentration of individuals with the Geisler name live in areas that have particularly strong roots to German-speaking countries. For example, the Big One_8 immigrant group in Louisiana, largely made up of French-speaking and German-Swiss immigrants, may be an area of particular interest in the search for Geislers.

Furthermore, in addition to Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, Geisler is also a common last name in Luxembourg and Liechtenstein. In the latter country it is the 68th most popular surname and holds a social position of respect due to its frequent connection with local dignitaries and celebrities.

Variations of the surname Geisler

The surname Geisler originates in southern Germany and may be spelled in several variations, including Gaisler, Gaislerová, Gaissler, Gaiszl, Gaisslerová, Gaizler, Gayzler, Giessl, Gysler, Gísla, Gizler, Geysler, Gisler and Kaysler.

The surname is derived from the Middle German name Gaiz, which was later shortened to Geiz or Geis and ultimately to Geisler. Gaiz is of uncertain origin, but may originate from the Old High German word “gezu”, meaning “space” or “room” – thus, the original meaning of the name can be interpreted as “he who had a room”.

Gaisler, the earliest variant of the surname found in official records, was first recorded in 1332 in a Prague document. This suggests that the later variants of the name were likely derived from it.

Geyser, a French variation of the name, first appeared in Béarn records in 1693. It was most likely derived from the German word “geyser”, meaning “to gush”, suggesting that the original bearer was a person who was able to gush forth gifts and bounty.

Gysler, a variation first found in Switzerland in 1501, was likely derived from the Middle High German word “giezel”, meaning “pledge”. This suggests that the original bearer was likely involved in contracts and agreements in some fashion.

In addition to these variants, the surname is also found as Gizler, Kaysler, and Giessl, all of which likely derived from one of the earlier variants.

Overall, the Geisler surname has a variety of spellings and variants in different languages, all of which likely originate from a shared root. Despite all of the variants, they all likely have the same meaning – “he who had a room”.

Famous people with the name Geisler

• Fanny Geisler (1850-1923): German pianist and composer.
• Linus Geisler (Born 1941): German painter.
• Istvan Geisler (Born 1957): Hungarian cartoonist.
• Paul Geisler (1888-1962): Austrian pentathlete and modern pentathlete.
• Elsa Geisler (1890-1956): Austrian actress.
• Luitpold Geisler (1865-1936): German ophthalmologist.
• Joachim Geisler (1939-2005): German physicist.
• Adolf Geisler (1870-1939): Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist.
• Otfried Geisler (1945-2013): German jurist.
• Timo Geisler (Born 1977): German long-distance runner.
• Thomas Geisler (Born 1981): Austrian hockey player.
• Siegmar Geisler (Born 1981): German composer.
• Antonio Geisler (1880-1943): Swiss composer and conductor.
• Therese Geisler (fl. 1763-1771): German musician.
• Josef Geisler (1783-1860): Austrian librarian and historian.
• Leo Geisler (1891-1974): Bohemian sculptor, painter and engraver.
• William Geisler (1886-1930): American portrait painter.
• Johann Geisler (1774-1843): Austrian musician and composer.
• Karl Geisler (1925-2008): German bridge engineer.
• Emanuel Geisler (1845-1914): German merchant.

Other surnames

Geislbrechtinger