Surname Geter - Meaning and Origin

Geter: What does the surname Geter mean?

The last name Geter is of English origin and has multiple possible meanings. It is thought to be a form of the surname Gater or Gather, derived from the Old English words gader, meaning ‘gatherer’ or ‘collector’, or geald, ‘possessor’ or ‘wealthy’. This suggests someone who either gathered or collected goods or resources or who was wealthy. The surname may also be a variation of words meaning ‘gaiter’ or ‘guardian’, which would suggest a family of protectors or a watchful presence. Geter may also be a form of the Old English word hider meaning ‘family’ or ‘kin’, which would refer to a strong sense of family connection or of having family members in the same profession.

The variations of Geter over the centuries are likely an indication of how it has been adapted in different areas and depending on the individual circumstances of the family. This variety of meanings associated with the Geter surname paints an interesting picture of the possible origins and stories associated with this name.

Geter: Where does the name Geter come from?

The last name Geter is generally considered to be of African American origin. The surname is primarily found in the Southern United States today. In particular, the highest concentrations of Geter households are located in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Many individuals with this name are descendants of freed American slaves and can be found in the states that were once part of the Confederacy.

The name Geter is also associated with the Bantu people, who make up the majority of the population in several countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Bantu-speaking people can be found in countries such as Angola, Mozambique, and Tanzania, where the name Geter is also quite common.

In recent years, with increased global migration, the last name Geter has been encountered in other parts of the world such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States. As people with this name and their descendants spread throughout the world, the population of Geter households will likely continue to grow.

Variations of the surname Geter

Geter is a very uncommon surname that has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. In many cases, the variants of this surname are derived from regions around Europe, the Middle East, and even North Africa.

Variants of the Geter surname include Getar, Geeter, Gheeter, Geatar, Gheatar, Ghetar, Geetar, Gheetar, Gitter, Jeter, and Jetar. Spelling variations of Geter include Getir, Getear, Getor, Getter, Geeter, Gytear, and Gitter. All of these can be traced back to the same Geter lineage.

Getter is a relatively popular variant in some parts of Europe, especially Germany. This surname likely comes from the German personal name Guter, which means good. Geeter is also popular in some areas in Germany and likely comes from the personal name Gütter, which also means good.

Surnames with similar origins to Geter include Gettis, Gittler, Gootman, Gottman, Gattin, Gatin, Guttman, and Guthman. Other similar-sounding surnames include Gheet, Gheets, Gheat, Gheats, Gheutz, Ghizt, Ghett, Ghott, and Ghetr.

Overall, the surname Geter has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These variants likely come from different regions around Europe, the Middle East, and even North Africa. All of these surnames have the same Geter lineage and likely all derive from the personal name Guter or Gütter, which both mean good.

Famous people with the name Geter

• Lloyd Geter: Ace keyboard player, “A.D.” Geter was a member of the excellent house band at Detroit’s famed Motown Studios in the 1960s and early 1970s, the legendary Funk Brothers.
• J.P. Geter: A notable Hall of Fame basketball coach who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020 as a high school coach.
• Ted Geter: Hip Hop artist from Atlanta, whose debut single “Smooth Delivery” went to number one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart.
• Florida Geter: Jazz singer from the Kansas City scene in the 1940's.
• Floyd Geter: Hoodlum that became a revolutionary poet and street philosopher inspiring a generation of Harlem youth in the 1960's.
• Ulysses S. Geter: Filmmaker, writer, and musician whose documentary film, Bootstraps, chronicles the rise and fall of an all-black sharecropping family in the South.
• Judy Geter: Jazz and Gospel singer whose song “When the Gates Swing Wide” was featured in the 1967 movie To Sir with Love, starring Sidney Poitier.
• Robert Geter: Famous African American artist based in Detroit who gained national attention for his modernist views of the urban landscape.
• Greene Geter: NBA player and basketball coach, known for his record-breaking steals as a defensive specialist at Georgetown University.
• Myron Geter: Grammy-nominated jazz trumpeter who started out playing bebop in New York in the 1950s. He went on to perform with musical heavyweights like Dizzy Gillespie and Art Blakey.

Other surnames

Geters