Surname Glesner - Meaning and Origin
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Glesner: What does the surname Glesner mean?
The surname Glesner is German in origin. It is derived from the Old High German term “glis”, meaning “a glade or clearing in a forest”. This indicates that the surname was likely given to those of the family that came from a place surrounded by woods or forests.
The surname Glesner can be found in records dating back to around the year 1200 in what is present day Germany. During the 12th and 13th centuries, the name was typically spelled as “glisner” in German documents. Over time, it evolved to “Glesner”.
The surname Glesner is quite common throughout Europe today, most notably in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. It refers to someone who is likely to have lived in or near a wooded area. Over the centuries, members of the Glesner family have made a name for themselves in many different fields of work.
Historically, those with the surname Glesner were likely farmers or workers who harvested trees or other resources from the forests in which they lived. The surname has also been adopted by many who have made contributions to literature, arts and sciences, and politics. Glesner families today might be involved in anything from forestry to business, medicine, or education.
Order DNA origin analysisGlesner: Where does the name Glesner come from?
The last name Glesner is believed to be of German origin, and is most common today in Germany and other German-speaking countries such as Austria and Switzerland. Although the name is not as prevalent today as it may have been in the past, there is still a presence of the Glesner surname spread across Europe.
In Germany, Glesner is found mostly in the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, with lesser concentrations in Berlin and Hamburg. There are also pockets of Glesner families in Austria, where they are predominantly located in the states of Salzburg and Vienna. In Switzerland, the name is mostly concentrated in the cities of Zurich and Basel.
Glesner is a relatively uncommon name in North America and South America, yet there are still some scattered individuals and families throughout these areas who bear it. In the United States, most Glesner residents can be found in Minnesota, California, and the east coast states. In Canada, individuals bearing Glesner live mainly in the provinces of British Columbia and Ontario.
Glesner is more rare in the United Kingdom, but there are a few people of the name living in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Australia also has a few individuals with the Glesner surname, mostly in regional areas of New South Wales and Victoria.
Variations of the surname Glesner
Glesner is a surname of German origin, which originates from the Middle High German word 'gläsener', meaning 'glassmaker' (a person who manufactures glass beads). Other spellings, variants and surnames of the same origin include Gläsener, Glessner, Glaser, Glasner, Glassner, Glasener, Glaeser, Glaser, Glauser, Glowser, Glawer, Glaser, Glazener and Glazzer.
Glesner is a generic name linked to an occupation, which suggests that the same people with different variations of this surname may be related. Members of the Glesner family might have changed the spelling of their surname due to poor record keeping or an attempt to give their name a unique sound. It is believed that the Glesner family has origins in Germany and Switzerland and is distributed between the two countries.
In Switzerland, the Glesner surname is prevalent in the Glarus canton (district). German migration to America during the late 18th and 19th centuries increased the instances of Glesner in the United States. Meanwhile, it is often seen in some parts of Canada, although not as commonly as in America.
The Glesner family has a large presence in Pennsylvania and other parts of the eastern United States. In Pennsylvania, there are numerous branches of the Glesner family with some of the most common variants of this name being Glessner, Glauser, Glaser, Glasner and Glassner.
Variations of the Glesner name, such as Glasner and Glaser, continue to be popular among some parts of Europe, as well as other countries around the world. So if you are researching your family history and come across the Glesner surname, you can be sure that you have not only found your ancestors' surname but also a number of other surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Glesner
- Julius Glesner: German businessman and former CEO of Commerzbank AG.
- Jim Glesner: National BasketballTraining and Philosopher he who is the former director of player personnel with the NBA Oklahoma City Thunder.
- Gordon Glesner: Retired professional American football player who played for several teams in the NFL.
- Joseph Glesner: Racecar driver and holder of 26 FIA titiles.
- Adam Glesner: German composer and musician who works on films and serves as a media composer.
- Rolf Glesner: Current President of the Federation Internationale de Football Association (deutsche Fussball-Bund or DFB).
- Frank Glesner: German actor best known for his roles in films such as “The Kings of the World” and “Desperado”.
- Ueberresh Glesner: Physician and former Dean of Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
- Nancy Glesner: American-German artist, known for her paintings, located in the National Gallery of Denmark and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
- Franz Glesner: Former world champion rowing coxswain, having won three Olympic gold medals.