Surname Geertz - Meaning and Origin

Geertz: What does the surname Geertz mean?

The last name Geertz is a Dutch name typically associated with the province of Gelderland. The name is derived from the Old Saxon term "Gert" which means "spear" and the Old High German word for "sea," "zî," combined to create a name which literally means "spear in the sea." Historically, the Geertz surname was used to refer to professional spearsmiths or those who created weapons and armor from metal.

Today, the last name Geertz continues to be used mostly in the Netherlands, where it is found most commonly in the provinces of Gelderland, Limburg, and Zuid-Holland. The name is also popular in areas with large Dutch emigrant populations such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

There are several meanings associated with the name Geertz. It has been suggested that the name is a reminder of a profession or activity and is indicative of strength and resiliency. Others view it as a reminder to be strategic in life, a symbol of adaptability and courage. Some also believe that at its origin, Geertz was a symbolic reminder of the importance of maritime trade for the country.

Regardless of its origin, the Geertz last name is steeped in history and continues to be a popular surname in modern times. It can represent physical strength and unwavering determination or up to its interpretation to each individual.

Geertz: Where does the name Geertz come from?

The last name Geertz is a rare family name which is most common in Denmark and the Netherlands today. It is one of the many last names adopted by Scandinavian immigrants to this region, primarily in the 17th century. Many descendants of the original Geertz family have since spread throughout Europe and the United States.

For Denmark, Geertz is the 393rd most common name out of over 5,000 Danish last names. History records that the first appearance of the surname Geertz in Denmark was in 1632, when Cornelius Geerz came to the country with his son, Hans Geerz. The Geertz family grew over time and many of its members served in the Royal Danish Army as servants and officers.

Geertz is the 167th most common last name in the Netherlands, where records show the first Geertz to immigrate was Willem I Geertz in 1699. Geertz has also become more common in Germany, specifically in the Ruhr area, thanks to the influx of Dutch immigrants in the 19th century.

In the United States, the last name Geertz is primarily found in the Midwestern states of Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota. The highest concentrations of Geertz family names are found in Wisconsin and Iowa, where they trace their German heritage.

Overall, the Geertz family name is most common in the Netherlands, Denmark, and the United States. It has a long history in these countries, spanning centuries, and continues to be widely used today.

Variations of the surname Geertz

Geertz is an occupational surname derived from "Gerhard," which was the German form of Gerard. It is most commonly found in places where Dutch is spoken, such as Holland, Belgium and much of Northeastern United States. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the Geertz surname are as follows:

Gerard - The French and Dutch form of the name

Gerhardt/Gerardus - Germanised versions

Geurts/Goorts - Dutch

Geehrt/Gehrt/Gehret/Geiret - German

Gaert/Gaerts - Flemish

Garret - English

Garreth/Garratt/Garrett - Welsh

Gerety - Irish

Garat - Basque

Gheorghiu/Ghiurco - Romanian

Gerrote - Portuguese

Geraud - Catalan

Gerards/Gerardts - Scandinavian

Geary - Scottish

Geretz/Gersht - Yiddish

Geerts - Dutch-American

Geertsen/Geertz/Geerz/Gerz/Gierz - German-American

Geerdes - Dutch-American

Gerardi/Gerardin/Gerardis - Italian

Gerárd/Gerárdo - Spanish/Portuguese

Geer - Persian

Gherardo/Gherault/Gherardini - Italian

Gieron/Girion/Girroni - Italian

Giorgi/Giorgiu - Georgian

György - Hungarian

Girsh/Gershkov - Russian

The Geertz surname is quite uncommon, but you can be sure to find variations of it if you trace the family tree far enough.

Famous people with the name Geertz

• Clifford Geertz (1926-2006): One of the most influential anthropologists of the last century, Clifford Geertz was an American who wrote multiple groundbreaking books, including Local Knowledge: Further Essays in Interpretive Anthropology.
• Anita Geertz (born 1955): Anita Geertz is the wife of former Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen. During her time as prime minister's wife she was involved in volunteer work to increase literacy and help children.
• Henrik Geertz (1926-2010): Henrik Geertz was a Danish-American chemist who was awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing a method to study the structure of long-chain molecules.
• Aron Geertz (1956-2019): Aron Geertz was a Danish professor of behavior science and was also an author of multiple books about psychology and anthropology.
• Claus Geertz (born 1947): Danish newspaper editor Claus Geertz was noted for his work at the Berliner Zeitung and the Danish tabloid Ekstra Bladet. He was also director-general of the eight biggest newspapers in the country.
• Niels Geertz (born 1957): Danish sociologist Niels Geertz is noted for his work on comparative sociology, investigating how Danish society is changing and adapting over time. He is also a prolific writer and political commentator.
• Paul Geertz (born 1934): Paul Geertz is an American anthropologist and professor emeritus of religion and anthropology at Princeton University. He is known for his work on religion, culture, and language and for his 1969 book, The Interpretation of Cultures.

Other surnames

GeertsGeertsemaGeertsma