Surname Gester - Meaning and Origin
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Gester: What does the surname Gester mean?
The last name Gester is a German name of Ashkenazic Jewish origin. It is derived from the word "gester" which is derived from the Middle High German word "sterren" meaning "star". The name likely originated as a nickname for someone who was considered notable and was comparable to a shining star. Alternatively, it may also come from the well-known Jewish practice of giving a child the name of their father, in which case the original bearer was the son of someone named Gester.
In Jewish tradition, the Gester surname is associated with good luck. It’s thought that this is because the last name was given to a son of a rabbi or biblical scholar, which is a particularly prestigious position. As a result, the use of this name has since become a sign of respect, honor, and high ambition.
Today, people bearing the Gester name are found primarily in Germany, Austria, and elsewhere in Europe. In the United States, the Gester name is most common in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. There are also Gester families that have spread to other parts of the world, such as South America, Asia, and African countries.
All in all, the last name Gester is a very popular surname in many different countries and signifies good luck and prestige.
Order DNA origin analysisGester: Where does the name Gester come from?
The surname Gester is reportedly of German origin. However, it is rare and does not appear frequently in modern Germany. The term Gester itself in old German language means ‘jest’ or ‘joke’. Surnames reflecting a person's job or occupation were quite common in medieval Europe, so it is possible that an ancestor of the Gester family might have been a joker or performed jesting roles at social gatherings or functions.
Today, like many European surnames, Gester is spread across the world due to the waves of migration over the centuries. Considering digital records and online directories, it seems to be most common in the United States, specifically within Pennsylvania and California. However, it remains a relatively uncommon surname. It is also found, though less commonly, in other English-speaking countries like Australia and the UK. But the data doesn't suggest a high concentration of the Gester surname in any specific region in the world today.
Variations of the surname Gester
The surname Gester might have several alternative spellings and variants, which could have been altered over centuries due to factors like migration, phonetics, or translation errors. Variants of the surname Gester may include Gest, Geste, Guest, Gust, Gusted, Guster, and Geister.
The surname might also be linked to other similar sounding or derived surnames like Gauster, Gost, Gaster, and Gestor. It may originally be from German, English or other European ancestries that have 'Geister' or 'Gaster' as surnames, and these could have evolved into Gester over time and migration.
Some surnames are often altered over time and can carry prefixes or suffixes that denote geographical origin, occupation or even patronymic or matronymic origins. Hence, you may also encounter variations like Von Gester, Gesterfield, Gesterberg, or Gesterson.
However, it must be noted that the exact variants and origin of a particular surname like Gester could vary depending on individual family histories and their ethnic, regional and historical backgrounds.
Famous people with the name Gester
- Graeme Gester: Graeme Gester is a Scottish professional squash player. He has competed in many international tournaments throughout his career and his biggest achievement was winning the Scottish National Squash Title in 2019.
- Marcus Gester: Marcus Gester is a former American soccer forward who spent his playing career in Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) and American Professional Soccer League (APSL). After retiring from his professional career, Gester became an assistant coach for the Seattle Sounders and is currently the head coach for the Minnesota United FC.
- Ragnar Gester: Ragnar Gester is a Czech-Icelandic physicist who is a professor at Reykjavík University. He is also the Director of The Reykjavík Academy of Science and Special Advisor to the Minister of Education, Science and Culture in Iceland.
- Jonas Gester: Jonas Gester is an international swimmer who represented Denmark at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He has won multiple medals in the FINA World Championships and European Swimming Championships.
- Alex Gester: Alex Gester is an American actress who has appeared in numerous television shows and movies. Her most recent role was in the 2018 film "Searching" where she played the role of Margot.
- Dan Gester: Dan Gester is a British television and film actor who has appeared in numerous television series including "Silent Witness" and "Midsomer Murders". He is also a voice actor, lending his vocal talents to BBC radio dramas.
- Clint Gester: Clint Gester is a professional surfer from the United States. He has competed in numerous surfing contests and is currently a member of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP).