Surname Giesen - Meaning and Origin
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Giesen: What does the surname Giesen mean?
The last name Giesen is of German origin. It is derived from the German name Giese and is believed to be derived from the Middle Low German “gise” which means “axe”. This denotes someone who was a skilled in the use of the axe. It is likely to have denoted a profession of someone who was adept at both carpentry and forestry.
The name Giesen is relatively uncommon outside Germany with the vast majority of people who carry the name originating from the northern regions of Germany. Historically many of those with the name Giesen were wood cutters and lived in small rural villages. In more recent times however, knowledge of Giesen families can be found all over the world, including the United States where people of German descent migrated during the 19th and 20th centuries.
The name Giesen has traditionally been a patronymic surname, with the Giesens taking their name from the first person to hold the name. As such it is not uncommon for different branches of the Giesen family to be descended from different branches of the family tree. In more recent times, however, the spelling of the name has become consistent, and is now widely spelled “Giesen” all over the world.
The name Giesen is an interesting one as it denotes a strong attachment to a hereditary trade of wood cutting. While it has become more widespread in recent centuries, it still holds a special meaning and sentimental value to all members of the Giesen family.
Order DNA origin analysisGiesen: Where does the name Giesen come from?
The last name Giesen is most commonly found in Germany and the Netherlands. German immigrants are thought to have brought the surname to the United States in the 18th century, where today it is primarily found in the Midwest, particularly in Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. The last name Giesen is also found in certain regions of Canada and South Africa.
In Germany, the surname is most common in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, particularly the Ruhr region. This area was once an important center for coal and steel production in Germany and attracted many workers from all across the country, particularly during the post-WW2 years. As a result, Giesen is now a common modern-day surname throughout the German-speaking world.
In the Netherlands, Giesen is also a common modern-day surname. The Dutch branch of the Giesen surname can traced to a single family from the Dutch province of Overijssel who moved to the city of Kampen during the 16th century. From this one family, the Giesen surname slowly spread throughout the Netherlands and to the present day is one of the most common Dutch surnames.
The last name Giesen is thought to have originated as a patronymic derived from the first name Gerhard or the nickname Gerk. Originally it meant Son of Gerk, and many variations of the surname exist across Europe today.
Variations of the surname Giesen
Giesen is a surname of Dutch origin. It is derived from either the Dutch word "Gies" or the German word "Gießen", both meaning "pour". It has several spelling variants as well as surnames derived from the original. Some of the most commonly seen spellings include Geisen, Gheisen, Geesen, Giezen, Gesen, Geysen, Gijsen, Giessen, Gyssen, and Gieson.
Surnames derived from Giesen include Gissen, Geisler, Geissler, Geiseler, Geissler, Geislinger, Geiszler, Geißler, Giehler, Giehle, Giehl and Giehler. These names are all traceable back to the same root.
The name Giesen has undergone some regional influence over time as well. In the Netherlands it can be seen spelled as Gijsen, Gysen, and Giessen, whereas in Germany it can be found spelled as Gießen and Geisen.
Giesen is also said to have been based on the name of an ancient German noble house named Giesen. In this case, the Giesen surname would have been taken from the family name.
Despite the various spellings and origins, all of these names are ultimately traceable back to the same root: Giesen. It is a popular Dutch surname even today and is held by a large number of individuals, particularly in the Netherlands.
Famous people with the name Giesen
- Monique Giesen: an actress from Belgium
- Peter Giesen: a German historian
- Dan Giesen: a former NFL player
- Tim Giesen: a former collegiate track and field coach at the University of Nebraska
- Andy Giesen: a former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Chris Giesen: a professional mixed martial arts fighter
- Laureen Giesen: a professional football player in the German women's football league
- Margarethe Giesen: a German expressionist painter
- Melinda Giesen: an American musician
- Ole Giesen: a German soccer player