Surname Gehringer - Meaning and Origin

Gehringer: What does the surname Gehringer mean?

The last name Gehringer is of German origin, and it is a habitational name from any of various places named the same in Germany. The earliest known bearers of the name belonged to a Bavarian noble family, who held the castle of Gering and the associated lordship from the 11th century.

The literal meaning of the name Gehringer is ‘person from the place of Gering’. It is thought to be derived from Gering, from the Middle High German term gerin, which means border. This is likely a reference to the location of the castle, as castles of the period were typically built on a national border for defensive purposes.

The Gehringer surname is also associated with some other famous German families, including the notorious medieval robber barons, the Gehringer von Barnekow. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, many families with the name Gehringer relocated to other parts of Europe and beyond.

Today, the surname Gehringer is a reminder of both a proud heritage and an often turbulent past. Those bearing this name may take pride in their German roots and feel drawn to their ancestral homeland, as well as the same feeling of belonging that unites all of us throughout the world.

Gehringer: Where does the name Gehringer come from?

The last name Gehringer is most commonly found in Germany today, though there are a small number of Gehringer families spread throughout Central and Eastern Europe. According to records, the earliest documented use of the name was in the Brandenburg region of Germany in the early 17th century.

The surname has steadily spread across the country since then and is now found in the majority of German states. Outside of Germany, Gehringer families can be found in Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, and other neighboring countries, as many of these countries once had strong ties to Germany.

The Gehringers of Germany today can trace their ancestry back to the original settler, Adam Gehringer, who first arrived in the area in the early 1600s. The surname was likely derived from the German word “gehring” which meant “little ring”. The name is also believed to be related to the word “gehren” meaning “to mount” or “to rise”.

Today, the Gehringer name remains a popular one for Germans, and there are many families around the world connected through DNA testing who can trace their ancestry back to Adam. Though the majority of Gehringers live in Germany, their presence can be found in parts of Europe, North America, and Australia.

Variations of the surname Gehringer

The most common variant of the surname Gehringer is Gerhardinger, though some variations of the spelling have also been identified in Germany and the United States. In Germany, alternative spellings include Gerhardinger, Gerheringer, Gierhardinger, Gerhinger, Gerringer, Geringer, Goerhinger, Göhringer, Goehringer, Göringer, and Gehringer. In the U.S., versions of the name such as Gerhinger, Garrynger, and Garringer have become established.

Gerhardinger is a German name of considerable antiquity. It is derived from the male given name Gerhard, which is composed of the obsolete Germanic elements "ger," meaning "spear," and "hard," meaning "brave, strong, and hardy."

The earliest known bearer of the surname dates back to an official of the Prussian Royal Court in 1755, with other prominent bearers succeeding in Germany, including the Countess Juliane von Gahringen in 1853 and Adolf von Gerhardinger, a Bavarian civil servant in 1878. There are also numerous records of emigration from Germany to the United States, as well as the occasional letters home from those who left for a new life in North America, which attest to the ways in which the surname has become established in English-speaking countries.

The surname Gehringer is popular throughout Germany and the United States, with numerous variations and spellings that exist between these countries, and the occasional distinct branching off that occurs in either the form of the surname or its spelling. It is a name of considerable heritage, one that is highly recognizable and can be seen in its various iterations across both countries.

Famous people with the name Gehringer

• Charles “Charlie” Gehringer: American professional baseball second baseman who played 17 seasons for the Detroit Tigers. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
• Frank Gehringer: American baseball player who played from 1924-1942 for the Detroit Tigers. He was also elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
• Erich Gehringer: Swiss politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council. Served between 1891-1901.
• Hans O. Gehringer: Entrepreneur and founder of the Gehringer International Group.
• Mark Gehringer: Former American professional football player who played 11 3 seasons for the Detroit Lions.
• Rebecca Gehringer: Canadian Graphic Designer and Child's Rights Advocate.
• Louis Gehringer: American mathematician who worked on the geometry of lines.
• Margaret Gehringer: American Business Education professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
• Gertrud Gehringer: German Olympic sprinter who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics.
• David Gehringer: American entrepreneur and founder of the San Diego-based creative agency called Gehringer Creative.

Other surnames

Gehring