Surname Geerdtz - Meaning and Origin
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Geerdtz: What does the surname Geerdtz mean?
The origin of the last name Geerdtz is German. It is derived from the given name "Gerhard," with "tz" added on the end as a suffix. This suffix is used to indicate the possession of something, so it could mean that the ancestor of this family line was a "Gerhard who owned something," or it could indicate that the ancestor had the characteristics of a "Gerhard."
The literal translation of this surname is "spear enclosure," which could refer to the place where spears were stored or it could be a metaphor for guarding something or a family's land.
The name Geerdtz could also be an occupational name, indicating that one's ancestors were skilled with the spear. Additionally, it could be a nickname for a short person, as the letters "tz" were commonly used in German surnames to denote small stature or a younger age.
Therefore, the last name Geerdtz could refer to a person who was a guardian of something, a skilled spear-user, or a shorter person, though its exact origin and meaning can only be traced by delving into family records.
Order DNA origin analysisGeerdtz: Where does the name Geerdtz come from?
The last name Geerdtz is most common today in German-speaking countries, primarily in Germany and the Netherlands. Geerdtz is derived from the German word for 'fork' or 'tine', and this surname is found in records dating back to the 18th century. It has been estimated that around 5,000 individuals today are part of the Geerdtz family.
The Geerdtz surname is especially prevalent in the states of Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony, where it is the 25th most common surname in both states. Geerdtz is also a well-known family name in dy Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and North Rhine-Westphalia.
Outside of German-speaking countries, the surname is much less common. Geerdtz is especially rare in the United Kingdom and the United States, where it is found among fewer than 500 individuals. Additionally, the surname is also found in small numbers in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
While the Geerdtz surname may be uncommon in some parts of the world, it remains a popular choice among some German-speaking families that trace their heritage to Northern European countries.
Variations of the surname Geerdtz
The surname Geerdtz has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variations include Gerdts, Gerdtz, Geerts, Geerdes, Geerdts, Geertz, Geerdt, and Geerdtz. The variations can also be found as surnames in different regions of the world.
The earliest recorded occurrence of the surname dates back to 1251, when a man named Burchardus Gerdti was recorded in Germany. From there, the surname spread to places such as France, Netherlands, Denmark and other parts of Europe. In the United States, the surname is more commonly found in the Dutch-American community.
The variations of the name Geerdtz are all derived from the name Gerard. Gerard is an old Germanic and Dutch name, derived from the Teutonic word “ger”, meaning spear, and the name gara, meaning ruler. It is speculated that the surname was used to denote a person who was a ruler of a spear.
This and other similar surnames can also be found in their original form in different spellings throughout Europe and the United States. Other variants include Geerds, Gerde, Geard, Gerdes, Geers and Gjertz.
In conclusion, the surname Geerdtz has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The name can be spelled in multiple ways, and is derived from the old Germanic and Dutch name Gerard, meaning ruler of a spear.
Famous people with the name Geerdtz
- John W. Geerdtz: Former American Major League Baseball player who played for the St. Louis Browns from 1916 to 1917.
- Bente Geerdtz: Danish fashion designer and teacher who is best known for creating the fashion brand Geerdtz, which she ran from 2007 to 2017.
- Ernst Geerdtz: Former member of the Philadelphia Orchestra who was a renowned virtuoso violinist and concertmaster, notably performing Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in 1936.
- George Geerdtz: Dutch footballer who played for Willem II in the 1940s and 1950s, and was captain of the team.
- Karl Geerdtz: German American poet, author, and screenwriter who wrote a number of Yiddish plays and films, as well as volumes of poetry.
- Robert Geerdtz: German American translator and editor who edited the first English translations of the works of Franz Kafka.
- Erwin Geerdtz: German Olympic equestrian who won a bronze medal at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam.
- Wiesje Geerdtz: Dutch Olympic cyclist who competed in the 1932 and 1936 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam and Berlin, respectively.
- Andreas Geerdtz: Danish entrepreneur and investor who is the founder and president of the Copenhagen Economics consultancy firm.
- Kaylee Geerdtz: American actress, activist, and philanthropist best known for her appearance in the 2017 film Good Time and her activism in the transgender community.