Surname Gerrmann - Meaning and Origin
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Gerrmann: What does the surname Gerrmann mean?
The last name Gerrmann is of German origin and is derived from the personal name ‘Gerhard’. The name ‘Gerhard’ has two elements, ‘ger’ meaning spear and ‘hard’ meaning brave. So, the meaning of the compound—‘Gerhard’—is ‘brave with a spear’.
Gerrmann is a patronymic surname which means that it was originally derived from the personal name of the father. It also indicates that the name was frequently passed down through the generations of the same family.
The Gerrmann surname was likely adopted in the Middle Ages by descendants of a notable ancestor with the given name Gerhard. The Gerrmann surname became popular over time as it was used by many generations of the same family throughout continental Europe.
Gerrmann may have also been used as an occupational surname by someone who worked as a spearman in the army. As this was a common job in the Middle Ages, it is likely that the surname Gerrmann was adopted by those who worked as a spearman.
The Gerrmann surname is now widespread throughout Europe and the Americas, indicating that the family has had a long-standing history and has spread far from its original German roots.
Order DNA origin analysisGerrmann: Where does the name Gerrmann come from?
The last name Gerrmann is an uncommon last name today, but it is most commonly found in Germany and several Central and Western European countries such as Austria, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. It is also found in the United States, Australia, and some parts of South America.
The last name Gerrmann is believed to be most widely concentrated particularly around southern Germany near the Bavarian region, and extends outwards as far as Austria and the Netherlands. There are many variations of the name, such as Gerhard, Gerhardt, Gehrman, Gehrmann, and Germer. The name typically originated from medieval times and likely had an occupational origin, as it may have been taken up by a gruerman, or a person who managed a local grainmill.
In the United States, the majority of Gerrmann families are found in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Illinois, and Texas. In some places, such as Ohio, the Gerrmann name in the U.S. is likely of German descent, but elsewhere it is likely of Dutch, Austrian, Swiss or British origin.
Overall, there are few instances of the last name Gerrmann found around the world, as the name is rare and becoming increasingly uncommon. Despite this, it is not completely unheard of and is still found in small numbers primarily in countries of Germanic origin.
Variations of the surname Gerrmann
The surname Gerrmann has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, including Garman, Germer, Garmen, Jarmen, German, Germain, and Garmann.
The oldest known occurrence of this surname dates back to the 13th century and was from a place known as Garcia-Man in Spain. The name was first found in Germany, where the family was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the area. The surname Gerrmann is derived from the late Old High German "gerede" which means spear.
During medieval times, the name was taken up by several families in France, thus the French version emerged with the spelling Germain. The English and Scottish version is Germer. The Slavic version is Garmon, which was adopted by the Bohemians and Sorbs.
Today, the surname Gerrmann can be found in many countries. In the United States, the surname is more commonly spelled German, and is especially prevalent in Pennsylvania, where it is the 11th most common surname. The surname is also very popular in Mexico. The variants of the surname Garman, Garmann, and Germer may be found in Germany, with other variants being found in Russia, Czech Republic, and elsewhere in Europe.
Famous people with the name Gerrmann
- Florentin Gerrmann, German football player
- Bernard Gerrmann, French writer
- Mark Gerrmann, American author
- Clemens Gerrmann, German footballer
- Stephan Gerrmann, German artist
- Andrew Gerrmann, Australian businessman
- Christian Gerrmann, German art historian
- John Gerrmann, American civil engineer
- Sheila Gerrmann, American poet
- Robert Gerrmann, American politician
- Wilhelm Gerrmann, German agronomist
- Thomas Gerrmann, German politician
- Karl Gerrmann, German composer
- Brita Gerrmann, German author
- Eva Gerrmann, German author
- Hermine Gerrmann, German actress
- Dieter Gerrmann, German engineer
- August Gerrmann, German jurist
- Mary Gerrmann, American photographer
- Carolin Gerrmann, German director and writer