Surname Gandras - Meaning and Origin

Gandras: What does the surname Gandras mean?

The last name Gandras has a number of possible origins. It is likely of Germanic origin, derived from the personal name 'Gandr'. This name was an Old High German nickname referencing a 'wanderer', or one who travels frequently, and may have developed into a surname by hereditary allowance. The name could also have originated from a Middle High German verb 'gantzen', meaning 'to wander or go around'.

Another possibility is that the name is of Slavic origin, derived from the Eastern Slavic word for 'flight', 'gondra', and so would refer to a person who could fly or move quickly.

More recently, the name has become associated with Jewish families, carrying the name due to immigration during the 18th and 19th centuries. It was likely derived from the Yiddish word 'gandern', meaning 'to go around', the same earlier Germanic origin for the name.

No matter the origin, the last name Gandras is full of travel and wanderlust, often carrying tales of those from generations before, seeking new opportunities or travelling the world.

Gandras: Where does the name Gandras come from?

The last name Gandras is most commonly associated with the Slovak region of Central Europe. Today, the majority of people bearing the name Gandras are found in Slovakia, with the next largest populations being in Poland, Ukraine, and Belarus. The name may also be found in small numbers in other countries in Central Europe, as well as in the United States, Australia, and Canada.

In Slovakia, the Gandras family is prominently featured in historical records from as early as the 17th century. According to historians, the Gandras family's noble lineage dates back to the 16th century. The family has had many notable members, including a 17th century mayor of Mukachevo and a 19th century Hussar officer and Revolutionary councilor.

In the present-day, the Gandras surname is distributed fairly evenly throughout Slovakia, with some notable populations located in the cities of Kosice and Presov. There are also many people bearing the last name living in small villages and towns throughout the country.

Outside of Slovakia, moderate numbers of Gandras immigrants have been found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. These people are largely thought to have emigrated from Slovakia and Eastern European countries in the 19th and 20th centuries in search of a better life.

Overall, the last name Gandras is still very much alive today, and its spread across Central Europe and the wider world attests to its longevity and impact.

Variations of the surname Gandras

The surname Gandras has a few variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The variants include Gandro, Gandrows, Gandra, Gandraux, Gandres, and Gandrez.

Gandro is an elaborate form of the plainer name Gandras. This variant, along with a few others are believed to be alternative spellings for the original name, so it is likely that the name evolved as the spelling of the language changed.

Gandrows is a derivation of the original name, Gandras, most likely originating in wherever the Gandras family settled in the late 1800s. This variant could be interpreted as “son of Gandras”.

Gandra is believed to be another version of the Gandras surname, common in the former Yugoslavia with a recorded use as early as 1487. Gandraux is also widely used in the same region, and has been recorded in the 16th century.

Gandres and Gandrez are believed to have been derived from the type of occupation of a member of the Gandras family. People bearing the name Gandras often worked as furriers, and so the name Gandres could indicate their trade. The spelling Gandrez could be derived from the same occupation but was used mainly in Mexico and other countries conquered by the Spanish.

Overall, the surname Gandras is believed to have a number of variants, including Gandro, Gandrows, Gandra, Gandraux, Gandres, and Gandrez. All of these can be traced back to the same origin, indicating that there is most likely a single source for this surname.

Famous people with the name Gandras

• Fabián Gandras— Argentinian footballer
• Alain Gandras — French composer
• Charles Gandras — Luxembourgian photographer
• Marielle Gandras — French Olympic swimmer
• Michaël Gandras — French composer and music producer
• Bertrand Gandras — French-Canadian film director
• Rubén Gandras — Argentinian retired footballer
• Frédéric Gandras — French graphic designer
• Maria Gandras — Saudian-American photographer and street style blogger
• Jean-François Gandras — French film director and screenwriter

Other surnames

GandrassGandraß