Surname Glessner - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Glessner: What does the surname Glessner mean?
The last name Glessner is of German origin. It is derived from the German word 'Glesner', derived from the Middle High German root 'glas' meaning 'host'.
In terms of its earliest known uses, Glessner can be found in old German documents and records dating back to the 16th century.
The last name would have been most common in areas of northern and central Germany, particularly in the middle of the country's Rhine-Ruhr region.
The surname is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word 'Glesner', which was the surname of a 'guest worker' or labourer who worked a particular area over a long period of time. The guest worker likely found himself living in multiple homes or farms and he was given the name Glesner - the German word for host.
The modern day meaning of the surname Glessner would be 'host', indicating a hospitality and welcome attitude that would be marked by an individual. It is likely that those who bear the surname Glessner are proud of this characteristic associated with their name.
Order DNA origin analysisGlessner: Where does the name Glessner come from?
The last name Glessner is most commonly found in the United States, specifically in areas along the East Coast and the Midwest. The highest concentrations of people with the last name Glessner live in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and West Virginia. For example, according to the 2010 U.S. census, 886 people in Ohio have the last name Glessner, 1,307 in Pennsylvania, 900 in Michigan, and 819 in West Virginia.
Though the last name is most commonly found in the United States, it is also widely used in Canada and Australia, specifically in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, and the state of New South Wales. It is also found in smaller numbers in European countries like France, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.
The history of the name Glessner is largely tied to areas of Europe such as Germany, Switzerland, and Poland. Records show that it was first used by nobility of German language, though it was later adopted by people of diverse backgrounds during Immigration to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, the last name Glessner is still used by people of German, Swiss, Polish, and other European descent.
Variations of the surname Glessner
Glessner is a relatively uncommon German surname. It is sometimes spelled as Glaessner, Glässner, Glaessner, Glaesner, Glasner, Glaesener, Glaser and Glaserner. All of these variations are derived from the Middle High German word "glaser" which means “glassmaker” or “glassblower”.
The surname Glessner can be found in a variety of spellings across Europe, as this surname has undergone several different variations over time. For instance, the variations Glaessner, Glässner, Glaessner, Glaesner, Glasner, Glaesener, Glaser, and Glaserner can be found in Germany and Austria-Hungary.
Additionally, in the United States, the “Glessner” spelling was adopted by some of the earliest Glessner immigrants, while other variants such as Glaser, Glasner and Glässner can be found in the Midwest, primarily in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan.
In Ireland, Glaser or Glaserner spellings have been used, while in the UK, Glaesner, Glaser, Glasner, and Glässner spellings are more common.
No matter the geographic location or spelling, the surname Glessner is associated with glass-making or glass-blowing. Although this surname has become less common over time due to increasing adoption of new spellings, it still remains an interesting part of history which continues to be passed on.
Famous people with the name Glessner
- Lee Glessner: American professional poker player
- John J. Glessner: American politician and philanthropist
- Grey Glessner: American professional football player
- Sarah Glessner: former professional surfer
- Jack Glessner: American television producer
- Robert M. Glessner: American engineer
- E.T. Glessner: American politician and lawyer
- John Glessner: former American basketball player
- Jacob Glessner: American dairy farmer
- Joseph Glessner: publisher and bookseller
- Alfred Elbert Glessner: American landscape painter
- Ellen Glessner: American mathematician