Surname Gumperz - Meaning and Origin

Gumperz: What does the surname Gumperz mean?

The last name Gumperz is of German jewish origin and was originally used as an occupational name for a coppersmith. The family history of individuals with the last name Gumperz dates back to the 15th century when Jews were allowed to practice various trades in German-speaking countries. Gumperz is derived from the Middle High German word "Gümpel," which directly translates to “copperworker.”

Gumperz is a relatively rare surname, with less than 1000 individuals bearing this last name in the world today. Most Gumperz families live in Germany and are descendants of the first copper-smithing family who originated in the town of Hamburg in the late 1800s.

The Gumperz family name is likely derived from the resourceful nature of its Jewish members, who used their skills as coppersmiths to maintain successful businesses throughout the region. The name reflects this capability, and continues to be associated with those who can find a way to make a living despite the odds.

Despite their long history, Gumperz is still a relatively uncommon last name. This is largely due to the fact that large-scale emigration of Gumperz families from Germany to the U.S., U.K., and other countries did not begin until the late 19th century. As a result, Gumperz remains an interesting and relatively rare last name in the modern world, still associated with the hard-working spirit of its original family.

Gumperz: Where does the name Gumperz come from?

The last name Gumperz is most common today in countries with German ancestry. It is found in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium, Denmark, and other nearby countries. The early beginnings of Gumperz can be traced back to Germany in the Middle Ages. The family's origin is derived from the Lower German word gumper, which means "prince".

The Gumperz surname also appears in countries with Sephardic Jewish ancestry, including France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Romania, and Russia. It is found in the records of one of the 18th century Sephardic synagogues in London, where several members of the Pardo-Gumperz family were believed to have lived during this period.

The Gumperz family is still present in Germany, where the name is associated with cities such as Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, and Munich. Additionally, there are a number of Gumperz families living in various parts of the United States, mainly on the east and west coasts. This surname is also fairly common in Australia and Canada.

The name Gumperz is also connected to notable historical figures, such as German philosopher and mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (Gumperz was his mother's maiden surname). Famous writer and Nobel prize winner Elias Canetti (born Elias Gumperz) was also said to have been born into a family of Gumperz.

In recent years, the surname Gumperz has spread across the globe, with people of German, Sephardic Jewish, and other backgrounds all proudly carrying the name.

Variations of the surname Gumperz

The surname Gumperz is an originally Germanic surname associated with the occupational name for a cooper, or barrel maker. It is a variation on the Germanic surname Gumperdt or Gumprecht which means "one who works with wood." It is most commonly found in the countries of German-speaking Europe, though some individuals with the surname migrated to North America and other parts of the world. The variants, spellings, and surnames of Gumperz are as follows:

-Gumperdt

-Gumprecht

-Gumpers

-Gumprich

-Gumpricht

-Gumpartz

-Gump

-Gumper

-Gumbrecht

-Gumbrechte

-Gumbredt

-Gumbrihte

-Gumbriecht

-Gomperz

-Gompertz

-Gumpherz

-Ginperz

-Geinperz

-Ginpertz

-Geinpertz

-Gimmerz

-Gimpertz

-Gimberz

-Gimberts

-Gimbertz

-Gumpersdorf

-Gumperzheim

-Gumperthofen

-Gumperskirchen

-Kumpert

-Kumperdt

-Kumprecht

-Kumpertz

Famous people with the name Gumperz

• John Gumperz: a professor of linguistics, sociolinguistics, and anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley.
• Julius Gumperz: an Engish-born Polish-Jewish lawyer and landowner.
• Stephanie Gumperz: a retired American basketball player who played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for the Washington Mystics.
• Herbert Gumperz: a historian and professor at the University of California, Berkeley.
• Alfred Gumperz: a lawyer and a prominent figure in Berlin's Jewish community during the 1920s and 1930s.
• Mary Gumperz: a philanthropist and the founder of the Gumperz and Peskin Foundation.
• Jürgen Gumperz: an influential German-American physicist and professor at Stanford University.
• Moses Gumperz: a prominent Jewish scholar and leader in the early 20th century.
• Herbert Gumperz Jr.: a professor of biochemistry at Stanford University.
• Erich Gumperz: a German-born lawyer and Jewish community leader in Berlin.

Other surnames

GümpellGumpertGumpertz