Surname Geris - Meaning and Origin
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Geris: What does the surname Geris mean?
The last name Geris is of Germanic origin and has many different variations, such as Gerys, Gerisch, Gries, and Grieß. The name is derived from the Germanic personal name Gerhard or Gerhardt, which means "brave with a spear." It is believed to have originally been an occupational name for a person who made or wielded spears.
In recent years, many people with the name Geris have immigrated to the United States from Germany, Austria, and other countries. The name is very common in the northeast U.S. in states such as Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey.
The name Geris carries many cultural connotations and often symbolises strength and bravery. It can serve as a reminder of the long history of the Germanic people and of the courage and persistence of the ancestors of many today's Americans.
Geris is more than just a last name--it is a symbol of heritage, culture, and courage that can serve as an inspiration to come generations. The name will no doubt continue to be an important part of American history for years to come.
Order DNA origin analysisGeris: Where does the name Geris come from?
Geris is a primarily Germanic name, meaning “spear of safety” or “spear of protection”. Historically, this surname is found in areas that were part of the Holy Roman Empire, such as Germany, Austria, Swiss, Czech Republic, and Belarus. The name is still relatively popular today in these regions, though some families have migrated away and Geris is now found in countries including the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, France, and England.
In the United States, the most recent Census data from 2018 showed that there were 332 people with the last name Geris. The most concentrations of the name were found in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, and Ohio.
In the United Kingdom, the last name also exists in small numbers. The England and Wales Census from 2019 reports 12 people registered as Geris. The General Register Office, Registrar General’s Index of Residences for 2019 showed the name spread across the four countries in the region—England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Although the name Geris is still present in various countries around the world, the highest concentration of occurrences still remains in Germany. The Find a Grave website lists over 1,200 people with the Geris surname, the majority of whom have profiles registered in Germany.
Clearly, the name Geris is most common in certain European countries, but in varying numbers, it is slowly finding its way into other cultures and nationalities.
Variations of the surname Geris
The surname Geris is of German heritage and is derived from the Middle High German word “gerisch”, meaning “ brotherly”. As some families migrated or adopted different accents, different spellings of this surname have developed over time.
Variants of the Geris surname include Gerris, Geriss, Geries, Gerres, Garris, and Garies. It is common in regions which were historically inhabited by Germans during the era of the Holy Roman Empire.
The surname is also linked to a number of related names, including some which have branches in the United States, such as Gerig, Garig, Garris, Gerris, Gerrie and Garish.
The Gerig and Garig branches of this family are found in Pennsylvania and Virginia, while the Gerris branch is found in Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
The Garris branch of the Geris lineage is found mainly in Illinois and Wisconsin, and a branch of the Gerrie lineage is found in New York.
In addition to the original Geris spelling, some families have adopted several different spellings of the name, including Gerisch, Gerrisch, and Gerrish.
This is primarily due to variations in pronunciation across the German-speaking countries. In Switzerland, where the Gerisch and Gerrisch variations are popular, the spelling is often individualized to reflect particular dialects.
Overall, presents numerous variations of the surname Geris, a name with a very long, rich heritage.
Famous people with the name Geris
- Jan Geris: Belgian Philharmonic conductor
- Joe Geri: retired professional soccer player from Italy
- Lidia Geris: former Soviet rhythmic gymnast
- Nik Geris: Belgian water polo player
- Nicolas Geris: French long-distance runner, competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics
- François Geris: former Belgian professional basketball player
- Louis Geris: Belgian cyclist
- Michael Geris: Canadian ice hockey defenseman, competed for Team Canada in the 1980 Winter Olympics
- James Geris: American marathon runner
- Tom Geris: former professional tennis player from the Netherlands
- Jeff Geris: retired American professional basketball player
- Poly Geris: Greek poet and novelist
- Toni Geris: German former swimmer who competed in the Summer Olympics
- Miguel Geris: Argentine Paralympic swimmer