Surname Gessler - Meaning and Origin

Gessler: What does the surname Gessler mean?

The last name Gessler is an occupational surname of Germanic origin. It is composed of two elements, "gaz" meaning "goose" and "sul," meaning "keeper." Thus, it refers to someone who kept or owned geese, likely raising them for eggs, their meat, their feathers or some combination of the three. The name also likely referred to someone who worked with geese in some other capacity, such as a gatherer of feathers or someone who tended to geese in general.

Gessler is an old and rather common surname throughout Germany, indicative of the strong presence that raising geese had in that region centuries ago. It is not likely to be found elsewhere, since the surname was likely established with the migration to new areas of Germanic people who worked with geese, spreading the name throughout the area.

Today, Gessler is shared by thousands of people in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and other countries in the region. It is not an uncommon name outside of the Germanic countries, with Gessler families scattered across the globe. Whether their original surname holders were hopelessly devoted to geese or simply had an affinity for them, the Gesslers are an attractive reminder of how our ancestors chose to make their living.

Gessler: Where does the name Gessler come from?

The last name Gessler is most commonly seen today in parts of the United States, Europe, and South America. In the United States, Gessler is most common in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. European countries that have seen high occurrences of the surname include Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. In South America, the Gessler surname can be found in Brazil and Argentina.

The United States has seen a strong concentration of the Gessler name in the Midwest, with the highest being in Illinois. This is due to the settlement of early German immigrants to the area in the late 1800s and early 1900s, before the gene pool started to disperse. Illinois recorded the first Gessler in 1712.

Pennsylvania has also seen high concentrations of Gessler, due to early German numbers in the 17th century who settled in the area. The name spread through Pennsylvania, especially around the borders of Maryland and New Jersey.

In Europe, the name Gessler is most common in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. In Austria, the top regions are Eastern Carinthia and Balearic Germany, while Upper Alsace and Freiburg are the greatest concentrations in Germany. Switzerland also saw high occurrences of the Gessler surname, with the largest concentrations being in the cantons of St. Gallen and Zurich.

South America has seen significant numbers of Gessler in Brazil and Argentina, particularly around São Paulo and Buenos Aires. This is due to German immigrants relocating to the two countries in the late 19th century and early 20th century. The name has now spread throughout Brazil and Argentina, but the high concentrations remain in these two cities.

Variations of the surname Gessler

The surname Gessler is a German name derived from the middle high German term ‘gessler’, meaning ‘host’ or ‘guest’. This name is most commonly used as a surname, although some people may use it as a given name as well. Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Gessler include Gassler, Gassler, Gesslor, Gesslar, Gesslerr, Gesslar, Gasslar, Gaslar, and Gassl.

Gassler is a variation of the name Gessler which is derived from the German term ‘gasse’ meaning ‘journey, trial, and trip’. This variation or spelling is most commonly used in Austria and Bavaria.

Gesslar is another variation of the German name Gessler which is believed to have originated in Switzerland. This spelling is also widely used in Austria and Bavaria.

The surname Gesslerr is a combination of the German words ‘Gessler’ and ‘r’, which translates to ‘the one belonging to Gessler’, or ‘the one who is a descendant of Gessler’. This variation is mostly used in South Germany.

Gasslar is the combination of the German words ‘Gessler’ and ‘ar’, which translates to ‘belonging to Gessler’. This variation of the name is mostly used in Southwest Germany.

The surname Gaslar is an altered version of Gessler which is believed to have originated in the Netherlands. This version of the name is commonly used in Dutch and English speaking countries.

Gassl is a variation which is derived from a variation of the name Gessler which is related to a 'trial journey'. This version of the name is most commonly used in Slovenia.

Famous people with the name Gessler

• Katy Gessler, American actress
• Christopher Gessler, American businessman
• Lauren Gessler, costume designer and television production designer
• Hayley Gessler, swimmer and 2017 World Championships bronze medalist
• Mark Gessler, President of the Historic Vehicle Association
• Flynn Gessler, American racing cyclist
• Dan Gessler, American DJ and producer
• Kaitlyn Gessler, NBA player
• Pat Gessler, guitarist from Germany
• Alyssa Gessler, Canadian Paralympic athlete
• Robin Gessler, actress and musical theatre performer
• Cristin Gessler, contestant on Big Brother
• John Gessler, American painter
• Landon Gessler, American football player
• Jim Gessler, professional basketball player
• Nadia Gessler, leading lady of German silent films
• Borys Gessler, entrepreneur from Poland
• Taylor Gessler, beauty pageant titleholder
• Alena Gessler, American mannequin model
• Lauren Gessler, contestant on American Idol

Other surnames

GesslGesslein