Surname Gerny - Meaning and Origin
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Gerny: What does the surname Gerny mean?
The last name Gerny is likely of Germanic origin. The name is derived from the Old German word "gern," meaning "restless, eager" or "ready to fight," suggesting a strong and proactive approach to life. It is an individualistic surname, suggesting someone with ambition and the desire for success.
Gerny is a surname also found in the Netherlands, mainly in the province of North Brabant. Here, it likely registered in more recent documents, probably post-1575 when Dutch spellings began to become standardized.
Those with the last name Gerny are believed to have been craftsmen who were eager to make their mark in society. They were likely successful entrepreneurs and businessmen, credited with pursuing their trade with determination and ambition. This may have included creating and fabricating things, like furniture, as well as engineering and repairing complex machines or structures.
The surname could also derive from a location, a vernacular of "ready-to-go," and refer to a place that was prepared and welcoming to visitors.
Generally, those with the last name Gerny were probably hardworking citizens who were devoted to their craft and were passionate about producing a high-quality product. They may have been resilient pioneers who were willing to overcome the many obstacles they faced in life. They have certainly left a lasting legacy and a respected name for those that carry it today.
Order DNA origin analysisGerny: Where does the name Gerny come from?
The last name Gerny is most common today in France and Germany. It is a Germanic name, though it has origins from French regions as well. The name is derived from the Latin “gernus”, meaning “grain” or “corn”, and it is believed to have been adopted in France by people of Germanic origin.
Gerny is still a popular surname in France today, particularly in the eastern half of the country, and is especially common in Besançon in the Franche-Comté region. The name is also fairly common throughout much of Alsace, Lorraine, Rhône-Alpes, and Aquitaine.
In Germany, Gerny is particularly popular in the state of Saxony and the city of Dresden. It is also fairly common in Thuringia, Brandenburg, and Berlin. The name is sometimes spelled “Gerni” or “Gernay” in Germany.
In the United States, Gerny is not as common as it once was, though the surname does still exist. It is found mainly in the midwestern states, with concentrations in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan.
The last name Gerny can still be found around the world today with its various spellings. Its popularity has dwindled in recent years, but it continues to be a recognizable surname in many parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Gerny
The Gerny surname is taught to have Saxon or Germanic origins, and is thought to have originally been spelled Gehren or Gerhen. It has several variants such as Gerney, Gernay, Gernay, Gearney, Gearny, Gernay, Gearny, Gernie, Gerney, Gierney, Gernee, Georney, Geornay, Gierny, Genery, Genney, and Gernoey.
Gerny is also a patronymic surname, which is derived from pet forms of Gerhard or Gerard. These pet forms include Gherkin, Gerkin and Gerkin, and other variants include Gherkin, Gerkin, and Gerrard.
The surname Gerny is also thought to be derived from the personal name Gernod, which probably referred to a member of a protection society. Variants of this spelling include Gernod, Gernud, Gernoud, and Gernaud.
Gerny is also a variant of the German and Dutch surname Kern, which refers to a person from a city known as Kern. Alternatives of this include Kerne, Kehrne, and Kerney.
Related surnames include Garny, Gerny, and Carny, which are thought to have derived from the Old German word 'gern', meaning 'eager' or 'willing'. Variants for these surnames include Garny, Gerny, Carny, Garnye, Gernye, Carnye, Garney, Gerneye, Carneye, and Carne.
The Gerny surname is also thought to be a diminutive form of the German name Gernot, which in turn is derived from Gernat, a Germanic personal name. Variants of this include Gernat, Gernot, Gernott, and Gourney.
Finally, the name Gerny may have also come from the French surname Guerny, which was adapted from the Old French personal name Guanar, and its variants include Guernie, Guerny, Guernay, and Gurney.
Famous people with the name Gerny
- Eric Gerny: an American visual and digital artist, best known for creating artwork for Hollywood movie posters and video game companies.
- Mitchell Gerny: former Canadian professional ice hockey player.
- Peter Gerny: British Formula 1 driver who competed from 1968 to 1969.
- Lowell Gerny: American judoka who was a two-time Olympian.
- Pierre Gerny: French former football player who played as a defender and midfielder.
- Lamar Gerny: American professional basketball player.
- Millicent Gerny: Australian musician, songwriter, and composer.
- Werner Gerny: German footballer who played as a full-back for FC Bayern Munich.
- Richard Gerny: Austrian Olympic champion for the foil and epee events in the 1928 Summer Olympics.
- Oskar Gerny: Swiss architect who designed several Art Nouveau buildings in Frauenfeld, Switzerland.
- Leon de Gerny: French singer from the 1940s and 1950s.
- Wolf Gerny: Austrian actor who starred in over thirty films.
- Georgette Gerny: Mexican actress who appeared in over fifty films in her career.
- Hugo Gerny: Argentine swimmer who won eight medals in total at the South American Games.
- Leslie Gerny: Guyanese-born American television producer.
- Art Gerny: American songwriter.
- Marcel Gerny: French artist who lived and worked in Paris during the late 19th century.