Surname Gesper - Meaning and Origin

Gesper: What does the surname Gesper mean?

The last name Gesper is of Germanic origin and is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word “gescepfen”, meaning “to create” or “to form”. By the 15th century, “Gesper” became a variant of “Geschaffen”, meaning “created” or “formed”.

The surname Gesper is one of the few surnames of German origin that made its way to the United States; an 18th century land surveyor named Jacob Gesper immigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania in 1782. The first record of the name in the United States is from 1799 in Pennsylvania.

The name Gesper is most common in the southwestern region of Germany, with most of its occurrances coming in the states of Bavaria, Hesse, and Rhineland-Palatinate. In the United States, it is found more in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York.

Gesper is an occupational surname, referring to anyone who was involved in forming, creating, or shaping materials such as wood, metal, clay, fabrics, or paper. Those who bore this surname were often craftsmen, blacksmiths, masons, potters, and tailors. Today, some people carry the surname Gesper and are still involved in this type of work.

Overall, the last name Gesper signifies the importance of craft and skill, as well as a connection to the trades of the past. It speaks to the ingenuity and creativity of the generations before us that helped to shape the world around us.

Gesper: Where does the name Gesper come from?

The last name Gesper is primarily found in Austria and Germany, though it may still be found in a few other countries in Europe today. In Austria, the name is most commonly seen in the Austrian state of Vorarlberg, along the Rhine river. In Germany, it's most commonly seen in the western states of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate.

In recent years, there has been some emigration of German and Austrian citizens bearing the Gesper last name to countries around the world, including the Americas, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The Gesper name may also be found in certain regions of Russia, Italy, and Eastern Europe, though it is not as common in these countries as it is in its homeland of Germany and Austria.

The origin of the Gesper surname is not definitively known, though it has been suggested that it originally arose among the early Celts, who lived in the area currently referred to as Austria. It is also believed that the name may have come from the old German word 'gespräch', which means 'conversation' in English.

While the name Gesper remains relatively uncommon today, it is still found throughout certain areas of Europe, and has steadily spread throughout the world due to emigration.

Variations of the surname Gesper

Gesper is a surname of German or Dutch origin. It is usually spelled Gesper, but can also be spelled Geßper, Gupta which is derived from German, and Gerber which is derived from Dutch. According to one source Gesper is derived from a name beginning with the syllable ges-, of uncertain meaning. Another source states that the name Gesper is derived from the Old German word gesper meaning spear.

Variant spellings of Gesper include Geßper, Gupta, Gepser, Geßeyer, Gepeser, Geßener, Geßener, Gesparen, Gespmann, Gespren, Gespione, Geßperck and Geßpeck.

Surnames of the same origin as Gesper include Geppert, Gespert, Gesprat, Gespray, Geßer, Gespier, Gesser, Gespierre, Gespille, Gespot, Geßter, Gespeller, Gessering, Geßurd, Gesserling, Gessing, Gessmann, and Geßnick.

It is believed that Gesper developed from the Old German word gesper, meaning a spear. The name would have likely been given to someone who either made spears, or used a spear as part of their profession.

Famous people with the name Gesper

• Barbara Gessler: Polish painter and graphic artist.
• Will Gesper: former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the South Melbourne Football Club in the VFL during the 1940s.
• Mary Gesper: co-founder of the American Thyroid Association (ATA).
• Rob Gesper: Dutch Football Manager who led him to the first place of the Eerste Divisie team RKC Waalwijk.
• Marcus Gesper: retired South African professional golfer who played on the Sunshine Tour.
• Karl Gessler: a Nazi German SS commander and doctor in the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II.
• Lloyd Gesper: American actor who appeared in films from the 1940s through the 1980s.
• Ethan Gessler: an Australian rower who competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
• Sarah Gessler: Australian actress who starred on television, on stage, and in feature films.
• Heinrich Gesper: German historical painter and important representative of the Düsseldorf School of painting.

Other surnames

Gespers