Surname Gerens - Meaning and Origin
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Gerens: What does the surname Gerens mean?
The last name Gerens is of Germanic origin. It was likely derived from "Garin", which was originally a personal name meaning "warrior" or "defender". It could also be derived from the Greek name Gerasimos, which was a name used to refer to a very old man.
The name first appears in Germany, with records in the late 13th century of a man named Geronimus de Gerard. It is believed that the name was brought to the Germanic regions with the spread of Christianity. The name was then adapted into French, Dutch, and other languages. In English, Gerens is often pronounced with a hard “g” rather than a soft “j” or “g” sound.
Gerens is a common surname throughout Europe, but particularly popular in Germany, Austria and Luxembourg. It is also sometimes found in Finland and Scandinavia, though this may be due to German settlers.
In the US, the surname Gerens was not particularly common prior to World War II. It has experienced modest growth since then and is now found in many parts of the country.
Overall, the last name Gerens is a Germanic name meaning “warrior” or “defender”. Its roots are found in Europe and it is now found throughout the world.
Order DNA origin analysisGerens: Where does the name Gerens come from?
The surname Gerens is found mainly in Germany and the Netherlands. It is also found in other places around the world where German and Dutch immigrants have settled. In Germany, Gerens is most commonly found in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg, and Bavaria. In the Netherlands, it is mainly found in the provinces of North Holland, South Holland, and Utrecht.
In North America, the Gerens surname is found in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The highest concentration of Gerens is in the US, in particular the states of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Colorado, Michigan, and Illinois. Gerens is also found in Canada in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, and British Columbia. In Mexico, it is mainly found in Jalisco, Chihuahua, and Michoacán.
In other parts of the world, Gerens is also found in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. In Australia, Gerens is mainly concentrated in the states of New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. In the UK, Gerens is mainly found in the Midlands and North West of England. In New Zealand, it is mainly concentrated in the North Island, in particular Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Wellington, and Northland.
Overall, the name Gerens is scattered all over the world. Despite this, Germany and the Netherlands host the highest concentrations of people with this surname.
Variations of the surname Gerens
The Gerens surname has several variants, spellings, and derivatives, which can be divided into two main categories: those derived from French, which are usually spelled Gerain, Geran, Gerance, Geraince, and Gerard, and those derived from German/Swiss, which are usually spelled Gerens, Gerensen, Gerenson, Gerensohn, and Gerensz.
Variants of the surname derived from French include Gerain, Geran, Gerance, and Geraince, which are all forms of the name Gerard. Gerard, derived from a Germanic personal name meaning “Spear-mighty”, is one of the most popular French names, and is currently the 37th most popular French surname. The other variants, meanwhile, are less commonly used.
Variants of the surname derived from German/Swiss include Gerens, Gerensen, Gerenson, Gerensohn, and Gerensz. Gerens is the most common form, likely derived from a shortened version of Gerende or Gerendra, a Germanic personal name meaning “brave” or “fierce”. Gerensen is a patronymic form of the name, and Gerenson and Gerensohn are two anglification versions of the name. Gerensz is a rarer spelling of the name, derived from the combination of Gerens and the suffix "-z", which is usually used to denote Jewish origin.
Famous people with the name Gerens
- Richard Gere: American actor, producer, and humanitarian
- Denis Gerens: Belgian footballer
- John Gerens: American actor
- Fred Gerens: German lawyer
- Monika Gerens: German journalist
- Michiel Gerens: Dutch artist
- Jelle Gerens: Belgian author
- Jean-Marc Gerens: French rugby league footballer
- Mort Gerens: American lawyer
- Patrick Gerens: German musician