Surname Gierold - Meaning and Origin
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Gierold: What does the surname Gierold mean?
The last name Gierold is of German origin. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "gêren," which means "bones," and "walt," which means "ruler." This is thought to mean that the first person to bear the name was of a noble descent. More likely, the name Gierold was adopted by someone either employed in or related to a ruler.
The name Gierold appears in many documents throughout German history. For example, it appears as a Northeast German surname in the late 18th century. The spelling variations include Giehrer, Giehrold, Gierhalt, Girrolt, and Gierld. In the late 18th century, the name was also quite common in the Austrian regions of Lower and Upper Austria, which adjoin Bavaria.
Today, Gierold is a popular surname in Germany and Austria. For example, in 2014, it was the thirty-fourth most common last name in Austria. It is the twenty-fourth most popular surname in Germany.
In the United States, Gierold is also a fairly common surname. According to the United States Census Bureau, from 2000 to 2019, it ranked as the 5,074th most common surname.
In summary, the last name Gierold has Germanic roots and is thought to be derived from the Middle High German words "gêren," which means "bones" and "walt," which means "ruler." Today, it is quite a popular surname in both Germany and Austria, as well as in other countries such as the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisGierold: Where does the name Gierold come from?
The last name Gierold is not overly common today. According to MyHeritage.com, it is most most frequently found in Germany, particularly in the southern regions near Bavaria. There are also some occurrences in the United States and Austria. The largest concentration of Gierolds living today is located in the state of Saxony in Germany. Saxony is part of the historic region of Saxony, which includes the East German Länder of Thuringia, Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt.
In the United States, the last name Gierold is more scattered, with most people having ancestors who have originated from Germany. In particular, the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Wisconsin have a significant number of Gierolds. The state of Nebraska also has a few Gierolds running through its population.
In addition, there are also some Gierolds outlaying in other countries around the world, with Canada, Australia, Mexico, Sri Lanka, and even India as some examples.
Overall, the last name Gierold is not an overly common name today. However, it can find its historical roots in the German regions near Bavaria and Saxony and there are also concentrations of Gierolds in the United States and some other countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Gierold
The surname Gierold is of German origin. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for this name include Gioerold, Gierholt, Gierholt, Gierhalt, Gierhaut, Gierhaus, Gierhust, Gierhotz, Gierholz, Gierhold, Gierhaltz, Gierholtz, and Gierholtzer.
Gierholt is an alternate spelling of Gierold, a German family name. It is an occupational name for a rider or someone who liked horses. It derived from the Old German words “gir” meaning short for Gerhard meaning brave spearman, or strength, and “hold” meaning horseman or knight.
Gierhalt is an alternate spelling of Gierold, which is derived from a German occupational surname. It is derived from the Old German words “gir” meaning short for Gerhard, meaning brave spearman, or strength, and “halt”, which means protecting or guarding.
Gierhaus is another alternate spelling of Gierold. It is a German surname, believed to be derived from the Old German word “haus”, meaning house. It is an occupational surname for a housebuilder or someone who provides shelter for others.
Gierhust is an alternate spelling of Gierold. It is derived from the Old High German words “gir” meaning short for Gerhard, meaning brave spearman, or strength, and “hust” meaning woodland. This suggests that the bearer of the name was a hunter or lived in the forest.
Gierhotz is derived from the Old High German words “gir” meaning short for Gerhard, meaning brave spearman, or strength, and “hotz” meaning woodcutter or woodworker. This suggests that the bearer of the name was a lumberjack or a wood expert.
Gierholz is an alternate spelling of Gierold derived from the Old German words “gir” meaning short for Gerhard, meaning brave spearman, or strength, and ”holz” meaning forest. This suggests that the bearer of the surname was a forest dweller or someone who worked in the forest.
Gierhold is an alternate spelling of Gierold derived from the Old German words “gir” meaning short for Gerhard, meaning brave spearman, or strength, and ”hold” meaning horseman or knight. This suggests that the bearer of the name was a horse rider.
Gierhaltz, another alternate spelling of Gierold, is derived from the Old High German words “gir” meaning short for Gerhard, meaning brave spearman, or strength, and ”haltz” meaning watchman. This suggests that the bearer of this surname was a sentry or guard.
Gierholtz is an alternate spelling of Gierold and is derived from the Old High German words “gir” meaning short for Gerhard, meaning brave spearman, or strength, and ”holtz” meaning woodworker or woodcutter. This suggests that the bearer of the surname was a lumberjack or wood craftsman.
Gierholtzer is an alternate spelling of Gierold and is derived from the Old High German words “gir” meaning short for Gerhard, meaning brave spearman, or strength, and ”holtzer” meaning miner or metalworker. This suggests that the bearer of the surname was a metalworker or a miner.
Famous people with the name Gierold
- Simon Gierold: an actor who has starred in various television and movie roles.
- Steven Gierold: an award-winning jazz musician who plays the saxophone.
- Paul Gierold: a former professional cyclist who represented Germany in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
- Marielle Gierold: a competitive swimmer who competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
- Michael Gierold: an illustrator and graphic novel artist.
- Friederike Gierold: an American-based entrepreneur and venture capitalist.
- Ursula Gierold: a German lawyer who specializes in corporate and project law.
- Dieter Gierold: a German professor and author who has researched and published extensively on the history of the Weimar Republic.
- Elisabeth Gierold: a German politician who served as a state minister of Justice from 1998-2003.
- Maria Gierold: a professional photographer whose work has been exhibited in several renowned galleries.