Surname Geßner - Meaning and Origin
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read moreGeßner: What does the surname Geßner mean?
The last name Geßner is a German surname. It is derived from the Middle High German word “geßner,” which means “steward.” Therefore, it is likely that the original bearer of this surname was a steward, suggesting an elite social status.
In Germany, the surname Geßner is typically associated with regions in the lower Rhine and the surrounding areas of south western Germany. In Moselle, Germany, the surname Geßner is fairly common. However, it is not the most prevalent surname in any particular region of Germany.
Geßner is spelled in all lowercase letters in modern-day German. This is in contrast to older versions of German in which the name was spelled with both upper and lower case letters. For instance, an old document from Prussia from 1574 lists the name as "Geßner."
The name Geßner has been found in churches throughout Germany. For example, the name appears on the baptismal records from the parish of Rellingen, a city in Schleswig-Holstein. The family is also mentioned in notes from the Schoeneberg area of Berlin.
Throughout Germany, the name Geßner is found on gravestones, suggesting the prevalence of the name in areas with large concentrations of German people. However, it is not particularly common outside of Germany.
Overall, the last name Geßner is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word “geßner,” which means “steward.” It is likely that the original bearer of this surname was a steward and had a relatively elite social status. While Geßner is fairly common in Germany, it is not as prevalent outside of the country.
Order DNA origin analysisGeßner: Where does the name Geßner come from?
The last name Geßner is commonly found today in Germany and parts of Eastern Europe. The majority of Geßner families are based in the northern regions of Germany, mainly in the states of Schleswig-Holstein, Niedersachsen, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. They are also widely distributed in the regions adjoining Germany, particularly in the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Belorussia, Lithuania, and the Baltic states of Latvia and Estonia.
Geßner families may also be found in other European countries such as Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and France. The Geßner name can be seen on a smaller scale in Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The name is an occupational surname which originated during the medieval period and it likely refers to a customs collector or customs officer. The most common modern interpretations of the name are Gessner and Geßner. There is some evidence that the letter ß in the name comes from the combination of two s's.
In modern times, the Geßner last name is most often seen as a German surname with a variety of spellings. It is still a relatively popular surname today, particularly in German-speaking countries. It is not a common name in the English-speaking world nor is it particularly widespread elsewhere.
Variations of the surname Geßner
The surname Geßner is both a German and Swiss surname. Its variants and spellings are the most common German form, Gemser; the most common regional variants, Geßner and Gessner; and the Swiss spelling, Gaessler or Geissler. The Geßner surname originated as an occupational surname, derived from the Middle High German term “geiz”, which refers to the profession of a moneyer, a goldsmith, or other financial expert.
The surname Gemser is derived from the Middle High German term “gamsher”, which refers to an insider in the profession of goldsmiths. It is an Ashkenazic Jewish surname, with its earliest known presence originating in Morgenstern, a village in Thuringia, Germany.
The regional variants of the surname Geßner, Gessner, and Gaessler originate from the same profession, and all have the same source. The most common spelling of the regional variants is Gessner. It is used as both a first and a surname in Germany, and is more heavily concentrated in the southwestern states and cities such as Bavaria, Vienna, and Zurich.
The combination of variant spellings of Geßner has resulted in various surnames which share a common origin. These surnames include Geisler, Geissler, Gaisler, Kassler, Giesseler, Gießner, and Gaßner. All of these surnames originate from the same financial profession, often referring to a goldsmith, and all have an Ashkenazic Jewish presence. The Geßner surname is most common in southwestern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Famous people with the name Geßner
- Marlene Geßner (German TV actress)
- Albert Geßner (German composer)
- Heinrich Geßner (German theologian)
- Gustav Geßner (German theologian and botanist)
- Max Geßner (German historian and philologist)
- Carl Geßner (German composer and music educator)
- Matthew Gessner (American psychologist and college professor)
- Wilhelm Geßner (German judge)
- Henning Geßner (German chef and restaurant owner)
- Fritz Geßner (German actor and director)