Surname Girgensohn - Meaning and Origin
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Girgensohn: What does the surname Girgensohn mean?
The last name Girgensohn is of German origin. It derives from the personal name "Girgent", which is believed to have been a diminutive of Gerald. It is believed to have first been used to denote a person who was "a small Gerald", indicating a son or relative of someone named Gerald.
Gerald is composed of two Old German elements, meaning "rule" and "spear". Therefore, Girgensohn literally translates to "son of the spear-rule", suggesting a strong family connection and a sense of being part of a powerful heritage.
Throughout the centuries, members of the Girgensohn family have been connected to distinguished and influential areas of society. Records show that family members have been involved in notable events in Germany and in other parts of Europe, such as the building of the Untertor bridge that connects Zurich and Basel.
Despite their illustrious history and the symbolism associated with the Girgensohn name, the majority of contemporary members of the Girgensohn family lead relatively quiet and ordinary lives that reflect traditional values and strong personal connections to their heritage. The Girgensohn name continues to be a source of great pride for members of the Girgensohn family.
Order DNA origin analysisGirgensohn: Where does the name Girgensohn come from?
The last name Girgensohn is most common today among families in Germany. Records show that it originated in the Bavaria region during the early 1800s, with families bearing the name migrating to the United States and other European countries throughout the 19th century.
The name remains widely used in Germany, although decreasing in popularity since World War II. Early spellings included "Gihrgensohn" and "Girgenzohn," and variants of the family name include Giergens, Gehrgens, and Girgens.
Girgensohn families are now found throughout the United States, in areas such as Arizona, California, Texas, and New York. Immigrants to the US may have come from Prussia, the Palatinate region or other regions of Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland, or Russia.
The family name is most common in North America, but there are families with the name in other countries including Brazil, Australia, Great Britain, and South Africa.
The most popular internet search result for the surname Girgensohn is for a small business in the United States (www.girgensohninc.com). The company was founded in 1985 and specializes in contracting and heavy civil construction. Since its inception, the business has evolved into a $150M+ privately held corporation with a presence in numerous states.
The last name Girgensohn is most common among families throughout Germany and the United States, and also appears in other countries around the world. While the name is decreasing in popularity in Germany, it still remains widely in use and has been adopted by several international companies.
Variations of the surname Girgensohn
Girgensohn (German) is a patronymic surname derived from an old German personal name derived from the Old High German name Gergent, which is composed of the elements ger ‘spear’ + gent ‘bold’, ‘hardy’ and is a compound name with a literal meaning of ‘bold with a spear’.
Variants of the surname Girgensohn include Girginsohn, Girgensohn, Gergensohn, Gerginsohn, and Gergensohn. Occasionally it can be spelled Jurgensohn, due to a etymological similarity to the given name ‘Jürgen’.
Surnames with similar variants and spellings are Gergen, Gerryns, Gerrynin, Gerrynsohn, Gorgenson, Gorgens, Jurgenson, Jurgens, and Jurgensohn.
Variant spellings of Girgensohn include Gergensohn, Gergenson, Gerginsohn, Girgenson, Girgenson, and Girginsohn. Other surnames of the same origin include Gergeson, Gerginson, Gergisohn, Girgeson, Girginsen, Girgisons, Jurgeson, Jurginson, and Jurgisohn.
These surnames derived from the German given name Jürgen are more likely to be found in northern Germany and the Rhineland region, while those derived from the Old High German given name Gergent may be found predominantly in southern Germany, the Swiss region, and Austria.
In some cases, the spelling and/or pronunciation of the surname has changed due to migration or language shifts. For instance, the surname may be found as Girgensohn in its original form in Germany, but in the USA it could be more commonly spelled and pronounced as Gorgenson or Jurgenson due to the larger number of English speakers in the country.
Overall, regardless of the variant spelling or pronunciation, every form of the surname Girgensohn or its variants is derived from the same Old High German personal name.
Famous people with the name Girgensohn
- Yardena Girgensohn: Israeli model and actress.
- Christopher Girgensohn: Illustrator and comic book writer.
- Marc Girgensohn: TV producer and cinematographer.
- Paul Girgensohn: Dutch Politician.
- Heinrich Girgensohn: German explorer and botanist active in the late 19th and early 20th century.
- Lee Girgensohn: Writer, producer and actor formerly credited as Lee Dannay.
- Carlos M. Girgensohn: Biochemist and molecular biologist, former Pioneer Award recipient.
- Inge M. Girgensohn: Psychotherapist and mental health specialist.
- Bjørn Girgensohn: Norwegian politician and former Minister of Fisheries.
- Brad Girgensohn: American investment banker and venture capitalist.