Surname Ger - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Ger: What does the surname Ger mean?
The last name Ger is a German origin surname meaning “armor”. It is believed to have descended from the Old German first name Gere, which itself is derived from a Proto-Germanic word meaning “to wear armor”. It's possible the name was given to those who were particularly skilled at creating or wearing armor.
Variations of the name Ger include Gehr, Gieri, Giers, Göhrer, Göhrs, Gerger, Gerke, Gerhardt and Gohr.
In modern Germany, the Ger surname is most commonly found in the central and western parts of the country. It is also relatively common in Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and the U.S.
The 1881 census for England recorded just over 1,100 people with the Ger name, with half of them being located in London. The earliest direct bearer of the name in England was recorded in 1283, when Simon Gore was recorded in Worcester.
In terms of people who have the surname today, the Ger surname can be found all over the world. In the U.S., in particular, it is comparatively common. For example, in 2018, the U.S. Census Bureau recorded around 10,600 people with the Ger last name.
In summary, the last name Ger has ancient German origins and has been found all over the world. Variations on the surname have been created and while it is relatively common, it is not one of the most popular surnames in any given country.
Order DNA origin analysisGer: Where does the name Ger come from?
The last name Ger is primarily associated throughout European languages with the Germanic origin and is most common in countries that were historically part of the Holy Roman Empire such as Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. The surname is also common in other countries with Germanic influences, such as Scandinavian countries and Liechtenstein. The Ger surname is also found in South America, although the frequency is much lower. Countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Peru, and Ecuador all have records of individuals with the last name Ger.
In the United States, the surname Ger is most commonly found around Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and Illinois. These areas were primary points of entry for German immigrants in the 18th and 19th centuries, and many families chose to settle nearby in the following centuries.
Within the European Union, the last name Ger appears to be most popular in Germany with over 9,000 recorded. Following Germany on the list of most-common origins is Austria with around 2,000 recorded, the Netherlands with over 1600, and Switzerland with a reported 1,100 people with the Ger surname.
Overall, the Ger surname is found primarily in areas of Europe with Germanic influence as well as in the United States. The surname is still relatively common in many areas, although today it is primarily found scattered in the general population rather than among a single culture or people.
Variations of the surname Ger
The surname Ger or Gér is a Hebrew word meaning "to grow," and is most likely derived from the Hebrew phrase ger yishai, which translates to "stranger" or "convert." Variants of this surname include Gersh, Gursky, Garland, Gerson, Gershowitz, and Gersonitz.
There are other spelling variants such as Ger, Geer, Gehr, Gehrt, Gher, Ghert, Geert, Geerd and Gerdt. It is also possible to find variants of the name Ger in other languages such as Giers, Giersz, Gierszewski, Gira, Girasol, Gras, Gerges, Jersi, Geerling, Garceau, Garneau, Garcelon, Geravo, Girard, Geraud, Girault, and Grégoire.
In addition, Ger is commonly used as a Jewish surname, especially among Ashkenazi Jews, and is an abbreviation for the words Gershon, Gershom, Gershom ben Yitzchak, Gershon ben Yehuda, and Gershon ben Levi; however, it is not necessarily an exclusively Jewish surname, as it is also common among other ethnicities.
Depending on where your family originates, the surname Ger may also have different origins and meanings. For instance, in some Slavic nations, the name Ger is derived from the old Slavonic word gerŭ, which translates to mean “old man,” and in Gaelic, it is derived from the personal name Gearóid, which means loyal or devoted person.
In conclusion, the surname Ger has many possible variants, spellings, and origins, which can depend on the nationality and ethnicity of the originator. For a more in-depth search of different variants, spellings, and possible origins of your surname, research into your family's background and regional history is recommended.
Famous people with the name Ger
- Heinz Ger: German actor
- Uli Gerhard: German soccer player
- Bernd Ger: German former soccer manager
- Peter Ger: Austrian architect
- Fernandez Ger: Filipino actor
- Georg Ger: German man whom Adolph Hitler saved from suicide
- Carl Ger: Danish olympic shooter
- Willem Ger: Dutch swimming champion
- Emre Ger: Turkish football club manager
- Helmut Ger: German mathematician and physicist