Surname Goerissen - Meaning and Origin
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Goerissen: What does the surname Goerissen mean?
The last name Goerissen is of German origin and is derived from the word “Goeris” which means “pious” or “devout”. It is commonly found in Northern Germany, particularly in the area of Westphalia. The name is believed to have been adopted by families who had strong religious ties, likely stemming from the Middle Ages when Protestantism began to take a foothold in the region.
The surname is thought to have first appeared in the 14th century, but it’s not known how the name bearers adopted it. It is thought that the original bearers may have taken the name from a living relative or ancestor whose piety was noteworthy. Alternatively, they may have chosen it to reflect a particular religiosity or devotion to a specific form of faith.
When Goerissen immigrated to other regions such as the U.S. or Canada, the spelling of the name often changed. For example, it could become Goerings, Goring or Goringe. This likely occurred for two reasons: to adapt to the new language or because the spelling of words wasn’t exact in those days.
At present, Goerissen is a fairly rare name, but its bearers can be found in several countries around the world. Though the exact significance of the name is difficult to trace, it can still be indicative of a long, proud heritage and cultural piety.
Order DNA origin analysisGoerissen: Where does the name Goerissen come from?
Goerissen is a patronymic surname of ancient Germanic origin, deriving from the personal name "Goer". It is common throughout Germany today, and is particularly concentrated in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein, and Saxony-Anhalt. It is also found in other countries with large ethnic German populations, such as the United States, Canada, and Brazil. The variant spelling Gaerissen is also found in some parts of the Netherlands.
In the past several centuries, people with the Goerissen surname have been prominent in Germany's literary, music, and academic circles. Among well-known Goerissens are the German composer Josef Goerissen, who wrote the popular folk song “Riptide” in the 1940s; German botanist Ferdinand Goerissen, who wrote the book “The Development of Botany in Germany” in the 1850s; and German General Abraham Goerissen, who served in the Napoleonic Wars of 1812-15.
Goerissen is a quite uncommon name in the English-speaking world, although there are some people with the surname living in the United States and Canada. In the United States, the largest number of people with the Goerissen surname live in the state of Michigan, followed by Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
Goerissen is a surname with a strong historical connection to Germany, although it is relatively uncommon outside of that country today. People with the surname can trace their roots back to Germany and are proud of their cultural heritage. Even in places where it is not common, it is still an intriguing name and a mark of a unique heritage.
Variations of the surname Goerissen
Goerissen is a patronymic surname with Dutch origins, stemming from the Dutch nick-name Goerrij(s). It is a diminutive of the given name Georg(e). The surname is an alternate spelling of the name Goerisse, and is also seen as Goerisen.
Variants of the surname include Goerijs, Geerissen, Goerijzen, Gerijs, Goerijse, Goerrijse/Goerrijzen, Gooris, Goerisse, Goerisse/Goerrisse, Goerissen, Goerisse/Goerissen, Goresse, Goerisse, Goerijssen, Goerisse/Goeritys, Goering, Goeerijsen and Goerijzens. Goerisee and Goerizzi are transliterations of the original Dutch surname.
A variant of the surname exists in the German variant as Goerres/Goerresen and in France as Gouries, which could also be a Basque variant of the name.
The most common spelling of the surname is Goerissen, Gores/Goerres and Goerissen. It is most commonly found in the Netherlands, but is also established in Germany, Belgium, United States, Canada, France, South Africa and Argentina.
Surnames with similar spellings are Gersisse, Gorrisen, Gorssen, Gorissen and Gerrissen and variant spellings are Gorisee, Gurizze, Gorizzi, and Gorize.
In terms of variants, it is important to note that due to the patronymic nature of the surname, many other spellings of the surname can exist as a result of phonetic spelling errors or texts written in different languages. As such, there are numerous combinations of spelling and surnames with a similar origin to Goerissen.
Famous people with the name Goerissen
- Christine Goerissen: Christine Goerissen is a German former alpine skier who competed in the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. She finished fourth in both the downhill and giant slalom.
- Sander Goerissen: Sander Goerissen is a Dutch television presenter who hosts a variety of talk shows and gameshows.
- Ana Goerissen: Ana Goerissen is a Spanish actress known for her work in the films Goya en Bordeaux, Más que Amigos, Ana y el Rey, and Atrescanos.
- Hans Goerissen: Hans Goerissen is a German football player who was capped for the national team in the 1966 World Cup. He also played for the then-West Germany side, scoring five goals during the tournament.
- Hermann Goerissen: Hermann Goerissen was a German actor and cabaret artist who appeared in dozens of films during the silent era.
- Nicolas Goerissen: Nicolas Goerissen is a German artist who takes his inspiration from 19th century wood engravings to create miniature sculptures carved from wood, unique pieces of art that combine symbolism and craftsmanship.
- Monika Goerissen: Monika Goerissen is a German long-distance runner who won the 1984 Berlin Marathon.
- Marcella Goerissen: Marcella Goerissen is a Dutch model and original member of the English girl group Girls Aloud.
- Martina Goerissen: Martina Goerissen is a German filmmaker who has written and directed a number of critically acclaimed feature films.
- Jana Goerissen: Jana Goerissen is a freelance costume designer from Germany who has designed costumes for films such as Er ist wieder da.