Surname Gerstmann - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Gerstmann: What does the surname Gerstmann mean?
The last name Gerstmann is derived from the German language meaning "grain man" or "barley man". It generally referred to people who were farmers, millers, or brewers in German-speaking countries. The name was historically associated with the profession of milling grain and operating a mill. The name can also be found spelled as Gerstman, Gärstmann, Gaerstmann, and Gärstman.
In Germany, the surname was first recorded in the late 1400s in southern Germany by Teutonic Knights. The earliest recorded bearer of the surname was Johann Gerstmann of Kisch in Kostolani, Bohemia in 1550. Later others bearing the last name would be found in the German provinces of Silesia, Prussia, and Austria.
Immigration records from the 17th and 18th centuries show that several members of the Gerstmann family from Germany made their way to the United States and Canada. The Royal Canadian Regiments of the War of 1812 includes the name of Geistman.
Today, the last name is still found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Germany. It is also occasional used as a middle name in various parts of Europe. The surname is often seen in lists of immigrants from Germany to the United States where it can be spelled as Gerstman, Gerstmann, Gaerstman, or Gärstmann.
Order DNA origin analysisGerstmann: Where does the name Gerstmann come from?
The Gerstmann surname is primarily found in Germany today. This is likely due to the fact that the name originated in Germany prior to the 13th century. Records of the origin of the name cite a man by the name of Gero as the first documented instance of the Gerstmann surname.
The name is fairly common throughout all parts of Germany today, particularly in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, which is located in the western part of the country. Other areas of Germany where the name is commonly found include Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, and Schleswig-Holstein. Interestingly, German census records suggest that the Gerstmann surname was once much more widespread but has become less common over time.
In addition to Germany, the Gerstmann surname can also be found in other parts of Europe. Specifically, the name is relatively common in Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Belgium, and Austria. There is some evidence to suggest that the name has spread further in recent years and can now be found in some other parts of the world, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Variations of the surname Gerstmann
The surname Gerstmann or Gersmann is both a German and Jewish surname with a variety of variations and spellings.
The most common variants and spellings in Germany include: Gerstmann, Gerstman, Gersmann, Gersman, Gerstmeier, Gersmeier, Gerstmeir.
Within the Jewish context, the surname can be spelled differently in various countries. The most common variants within the Ashkenazic culture are Gersman, Gershman, Gersmann, Gerson, and Gerszmann.
Variants in various European countries include: Gersztyn (Polish), Gershtein (Russian), Gerszkiewicz (Polish), Gersztyn (Polish), Kursman (Lithuanian) and Girtzman (Yiddish).
In the United States and Canada, the surname can be spelled GERSTMANN, GERSTMAN, GERSMANN, GERSMAN, GERSMITH, GERSHTEIN, and GERSHTMAN.
The surname has changed slightly in different countries due to sound changes, and spelling variations due to cultural influences and the literacy of the scribes who wrote the records.
In addition, different cultures have modified the spelling of the surname, either to conform to their own linguistic trends or to create a unique spelling of the name. It is also possible that some bearers of the surname modified the spelling to distinguish themselves from other bearers of the same name.
Famous people with the name Gerstmann
- Jeff Gerstmann: Jeff is an American video game journalist and the former Editorial Director of GameSpot.
- Jamie Gerstmann: Jamie is an American video game journalist and the former assistant Editor-in-Chief of GameSpot.
- Erik Gerstmann: Erik is an American video game journalist and the former Senior Editor of giantbomb.com.
- Kurt Gerstmann: Kurt is an American video game critic and the Executive Producer of Giant Bomb.
- Mark Gerstmann: Mark is an American actor and the founder of YaViz, an interactive media company.
- Donna Gerstmann: Donna is an American artist and art educator.
- Daniel Jonathan Gerstmann: Daniel is an American physician, professor, and the director of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Vermont College of Medicine.
- Ken Gerstmann: Ken is an American wildlife photographer and Documentary Filmmaker.
- Christian Gerstmann: Christian is an American theatre director, writer, and theater technician at the School of Theater and Dance at Towson University.
- Nick Gerstmann: Nick is an American bassist and a member of the German progressive metal band Freedom Call.