Surname Gierens - Meaning and Origin

Gierens: What does the surname Gierens mean?

The last name Gierens is of Dutch origin, indicating a Germanic-language heritage. It is believed to have first originated from the region of Gelderland in the Netherlands. The name Gierens is likely derived from the Old Dutch word “Gier” or “Gyer” meaning “Margrave” or “Count”. It is also possible the surname may have descended from the German county, Gieren.

The name Gierens may also have its roots in a more common Dutch name Jansen, which is derived from the patronymic name Jan, meaning “son of Jan”. Some historians believe that the Jansen surname may have been altered over time to the name Gierens.

Gierens may also be derived from the Old German word “Giran” which means “asarce Graf”, or “holder of an estate”. It is very likely that those bearing the Gierens surname may have held influential positions in their respective communities due to their apparent wealth and status.

Today, the Gierens surname is relatively frequent in the Netherlands, with 13,076 people bearing the name. The surname is also quite prevalent in the United States as the “Gier” variant of the name is fairly common among those bearing Dutch heritage.

Gierens: Where does the name Gierens come from?

The last name Gierens is most commonly associated with the Netherlands, particularly the Dutch-speaking region of northern Belgium known as Flanders. The name first appears in records dating back to at least the year 1620 when a certain Jacob Jansen van Gierens was named as a witness to a family burial in Flanders.

By the late eighteenth century, Gierens had become a relatively common name in many parts of Flanders as well as in other parts of the Netherlands. Today, it is most commonly found in the provinces of East Flanders and Antwerp as well as in smaller numbers in other parts of Belgium and the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, for example, the name is most commonly found in the province of North Holland.

In the United States, the name is still relatively rare, with fewer than 500 people currently carrying the name. Most of those with the name Gierens in the US are descended from Dutch immigrants who arrived in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The largest concentration of people with this name in the United States can be found in the midwestern states of Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana.

It is also possible to find Gierens in other parts of the world due to Dutch emigration to other countries in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, particularly to places like South Africa and Australia.

Variations of the surname Gierens

Gierens is a rare surname, native to Belgium and the Netherlands. It is most commonly spelled as Gierens, though other variants do exist. Commonly, the name is found as Gierens in Belgium and as Gieren in the Netherlands. Other variants of this name include Geerens, Geeuwens, Gijrens and Geurrens.

Gierens is derived from the Old Dutch given name Geer, which means "spear". This name was probably used to denote a person who was a skilled spearman, or who was of a spear-wielding family. Examples of similar Dutch surnames adopted from given names are Geers, Geerts, and Gijs.

In Belgium, this surname is more commonly found as Gierens. Variants of this spelling include Ghierens, Gijrens, Gièrens, and Guirenne. This name is typically found in the regions of Limburg and North Brabant.

In the Netherlands, the name Gierens is commonly found as Gieren. Other variants of this spelling are Gijeren, Gijrens, and Geerne. This name is usually found in the Noord-Brabant province.

There are also other variants that are related to Gierens in origin, including Giurrens, Gierkens, Gorrens, Geerlings, Guirrens, Gehrens, and Geurrens. These surnames are also derived from the Old Dutch given name Geer and typically found in the same regions as Gierens.

Famous people with the name Gierens

• Susanne Gierens: Susanne Gierens is a German paralympic swimmer, who won two gold medals, one silver medal, and one bronze medal in 2016 Summer Paralympic Games.
• Gisela Gierens: Gisela Gierens is a German Paralympic table-tennis player with a gold medal and two silver medals, which she earned in 2016 Summer Paralympic Games.
• Bernd Gierens: Bernd Gierens is a German professional footballer who plays for Borussia Dortmund.
• Ernst Gierens: Ernst Gierens is a German former footballer who is currently a manager and a coach with the amateur team SV Alemannia Salzbergen.
• Albert Gierens: Albert Gierens is a Belgian former motorcycle specialist turned stretched limousine operator and driver.
• Michael Gierens: Michael Gierens is a German sculptor, goldsmith and metalworker.
• Gaby Gierens: Gaby Gierens is a German author and screenwriter who has written several popular books about crime and mystery.
• Ryan Gierens: Ryan Gierens is an American professional skier and snowboarder who is a former World Champion Snowcross racer.
• Sebastian Gierens: Sebastian Gierens is a German professional football coach and former player.
• Nils Gierens: Nils Gierens is a German professional stuntman and actor.

Other surnames

GiereGierer