Surname Geerdes - Meaning and Origin

Geerdes: What does the surname Geerdes mean?

The last name Geerdes is a Dutch surname that has been traced back to the Middle Ages. It's believed to be a toponymic surname, meaning that it was taken from the name of a place or geographical feature where the original bearer of the name lived. One such place is Geerdijk, a small town in the Netherlands, which is a fitting origin for the name.

The meaning of the surname Geerdes is somewhat difficult to pinpoint, as there are several schools of thought. It may have originated as a patronymic name meaning “son of Gerard,” or it may have been derived from the Dutch word “geerde,” which means “clever.” It could also have been derived from a Dutch word meaning “brave” or “courageous.”

Regardless of its exact origin, the surname Geerdes is associated with a proud and noble legacy. The Geerdes family originated in the Netherlands and spread worldwide over hundreds of years. At the height of their popularity, they were one of the most common Dutch surnames, with many people bearing this name being prominent figures in Dutch history.

Today, people with the last name Geerdes can be found living all around the world, with the Netherlands still having the strongest concentration of people with this surname. In any case, they can all be proud to be part of a name with a rich and honorable past.

Geerdes: Where does the name Geerdes come from?

The last name Geerdes is most commonly found in the Netherlands, particularly in the northern regions. It is also found in Germany and in the United States.

The origin of the name dates back to the mid 16th century when it began to spread across the Netherlands. Over the centuries, the Geerdes family spread outwards from their homeland and moved to different parts of the country.

In the United States, the name is most common in the states of California, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, and Nebraska. In the United Kingdom, it is common in England and Wales.

Geerdes is a patronymic name. It derives from the personal name Geert, which means "strong spear." The hereditary surname was most likely adopted when the medieval naming system became established in the Netherlands and the surrounding parts of northern Europe.

Today, the name Geerdes is associated with many high-achieving people, from business moguls and academics to celebrities and political figures. It is an increasingly common name throughout the Netherlands, Europe, and the United States.

Variations of the surname Geerdes

There are many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Geerdes. The most common ones are Geerts, Geurtz, Geurts, Geurds, Geerdts, Geurdts, and Gerdes. Geerts and Geurtz are Dutch variants of the surname, while Geurts is a Frisian variation. Geurds is a Dutch-Frisian hybrid surname, and Geerdts, Geurdts, and Gerdes are Germanic variants of this name.

Geerts is the most common variant of the surname Geerdes and it originally comes from the personal name Gerlacus Gerhard. Gerhard was a Latin form of a Germanic personal name composed of two elements- ger, meaning ‘spear’ and hard, meaning ‘brave or hardy’. The combination of these two elements gave the name the meaning of ‘bold warrior’.

The earliest mentions of the name Geerdes can be found in medieval Dutch records. The earliest record of the name notes the marriage of Gheerde Jansz to Anna Jansdr Hencx on the 20th of October 1575 in Houten, Utrecht, Netherlands. This is one of the earliest records of a person with this surname.

This surname has been in use for centuries and still continues to be used in the present day. It is often seen spelled in its original Dutch form Geerdes or its variants Geerts, Geurtz, Geurts, Geurds, Geerdts, Geurdts, and Gerdes.

Famous people with the name Geerdes

• Joshua Geerdes: A former American football offensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers of NFL.
• Pim Geerdes: A Dutch music producer and composer/arranger.
• Wilma Geerdes: A Dutch former tennis player who represented the Netherlands in the 1968 Summer Olympics.
• Wilma Geerdes: A notable Dutch professional badminton player.
• Kurt Geerdes: A Dutch former professional football player who primarily played as a defender.
• Coert Geerdes: A Dutch-Frisian politician, lawyer and former lecturer.
• Nathan Geerdes: A Dutch former cyclist who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics.
• Wilco Geerdes: A former Dutch international association footballer.
• Douwe Geerdes: A Dutch again former professional football player who was known for his scoring prowess.
• Rien Geerdes: A Dutch former professional footballer whose most prominent spell was with FC Utrecht.
• Menno Geerdes: A Dutch architect known for his modern and classical designs.
• Bert Geerdes: A Dutch professional footballer who played as a defender.
• Pieter Geerdes: A Dutch Roman Catholic diplomat and former Ambassador to the Holy See.
• Alexander Geerdes: A Dutch professional golfer who won several tournaments in Europe.
• Ietje Geerdes: A Dutch rower who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.
• Bert Geerdes: A Dutch organist and composer of classical music.
• Dick Geerdes: A Dutch former motorcycle speedway rider.
• Jill Geerdes: A modern abstract artist and sculptor from the Netherlands.
• Dr. Henning Geerdes: A renowned German professor of Business and Information Systems.
• Christian Geerdes: A Dutch professional basketball player.

Other surnames

GeerdinckGeerdingGeerdinkGeerdsGeerdsemaGeerdsenGeerdtsGeerdtz