Surname Giessmann - Meaning and Origin

Giessmann: What does the surname Giessmann mean?

The last name Giessmann is of German origin. It is derived from the German word 'giese' which means 'settlement' or 'village'. Additionally, the suffix 'mann' is associated with the German word 'mann' which means 'man' or 'male'. Therefore, the surname Giessmann can be interpreted as meaning 'man from the settlement/village'.

Throughout its history, the surname Giessmann has been found in most German-speaking countries. It is thought that the name originally had its roots in central Germany before becoming popular across the continent. The name remains relatively common in countries including Austria, Switzerland and Germany.

Today it is an uncommon but still recognisable surname across countries with a German-speaking population. Although the spelling may have changed slightly over time, the meaning of the surname is believed to remain the same.

Giessmann is a surname with a long and unique history. This surname would have been adopted by people in various parts of Germany during different eras, allowing it to become one of the few surnames to be remembered and passed down through generations. Its meaning gives insight into the rich cultural heritage of this name and the families who have had it.

Giessmann: Where does the name Giessmann come from?

The last name Giessmann is most common in Germany, where it is the 6,557th most commonly used surname, according to the 2019 census. It is also found in the Netherlands and France, though less frequently.

In Germany, Giessmann is concentrated around the region of the Belgian and Dutch border, notably in the west of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is also found in the Rhineland-Palatinate and Lower-Saxony. In the Netherlands, the surname is more widespread, appearing in the provinces of Friesland, Drenthe, Overijssel, and North Holland.

Giessmann first gained popularity in the Middle Ages, when it was used by small farmers and artisans in the noble court of Wolfsberg, which was situated close to today's city of Frankfurt am Main. It was considered to reflect the industriousness and hard work of the small craftsmen living there.

In the nineteenth century, increasing mobility brought a few Giessmanns to the United States, where today they can be found in the state of California and around the Chicago area. Curiously, the Giessmann name has been given to a breed of cattle, found Holstein region in Germany.

Despite its European origins, today the surname Giessmann is a global one, used throughout Germany, France, Netherlands, United States and beyond.

Variations of the surname Giessmann

The surname Giessmann is a Germanic name which originates from two distinct sources. Firstly, it is derived from the Old High German word giso, meaning ‘host’, or ‘landlord’, which initially referred to people who owned a certain amount of property, and served as landlords. It is also linked to the pre-7th century word geizo, meaning ‘man of the estate’ or ‘caretaker’.

Secondarily, it is related to the Germanic word gemana, meaning ‘friend’ or ‘neighbor’, and is a variant of Gemann or Gemein, both meaning ‘people’. It was also formerly spelled Kessmann or Giermann.

Variants and alternate spellings of the name Giessmann include Giessenmann, Giesemann, Giesmann, Giessman, Geissman, Geiselman, Geisemann, Geisman, Geisseman, Gessesman, Gessman, Gausmann, Gausman, Gaus, Gersmann, Giermann and Kessmann.

Surnames derived from Giessmann include Giessman, Giessen, Giessert, Gievess, Gieson, Geissen, Geisman, Giersmann, Giersman, Gierssen, Giesen, Gieser, Gisen, Gissen, Kesson, Kessman, Kiesmann, Kryssman, Krystan and Kysman.

Famous people with the name Giessmann

• Oskar Giessmann: Austrian, former secret service agent and actor.
• Johanna Giessmann: German singer and songwriter.
• Christoph Giessmann: German entrepreneur, inventor and author.
• Harry Giessmann: British photographer and ecclesiastical artist.
• Matthias Giessmann: German composer, performing artist and teacher.
• Fred Giessmann: German-American physicist and co-discoverer of the Giessmann-Kremer inverse-square law of gravitation.
• Christiane Giessmann: Austrian artist, sculptor and writer.
• Wilhelm Giessmann: German Olympic rower.
• August Giessmann: German philologist, linguist and literary historian.
• Horst Giessmann: German former professional football referee.

Other surnames

Giessman