Surname Gehrt - Meaning and Origin

Gehrt: What does the surname Gehrt mean?

The surname Gehrt is of German and Dutch origin, with the earliest recorded spelling of the name being Gehret, which dates back to the 16th century. It typically derives from the old German word "gerten," meaning "spear" or "lance," suggesting that its original bearers were likely warriors or soldiers.

The patronymic form of the name is "Gehrtz," meaning "son of Gehrt." It has also been found spelled as Gehrett, Gehright, Gerehte, Gerht, and Geerts. It is known to be especially common in the German states of Prussia and Westphalia.

The Gehrts are believed to have first emerged as a distinct German family during the medieval era. The name may have originally been the occupational name of a soldier charged with protecting the walls of a castle or fortification. Alternatively, it may have been a name given to someone who resembled an armed warrior in appearance or disposition.

Today, the Gehrt surname is common among people of Dutch or German descent living in North America, Australia, South Africa, and other parts of the world. People bearing the Gehrt name can trace their roots back to the countries of Germany and Holland.

Gehrt: Where does the name Gehrt come from?

Gehrt is a surname of Germanic origin. In Germany, where it was found most frequently during the 19th century, it remains quite common today in both its original spelling and its variant forms, such as Gehret, Geret, Gerhard, Gerhardt, and Gherhard. It is also found in other areas of Europe, especially in Germany's neighbouring countries such as Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Poland, and the Netherlands. It can also be encountered in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia, where it is often seen as a result of immigration from Germany during the 19th century. Nationally, in the United States, Gehrt is a moderately common surname ranking as the 1,109th most frequent name. In Germany, it is part of the top 700 surnames in the country. With German immigrants also settling in other areas of the world, Gehrt can also be found in parts of South America, Africa, and elsewhere.

Variations of the surname Gehrt

The surname Gehrt is a German surname that has several variants. Primarily, the variants are Gehrdt, Gehard, Geherdt, Gehert, Gehrhardt, Gehrking, and Gehrmann.

The spelling of the surname can be changed depending on the area of origin. In Germany, Gehrt may become Gehrdt or Geherdt, while Dutch regions might use the spelling Gehrth or Geert. Gehrking and Gehrmann can also be found in countries speaking German, especially in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

The surnames of the same origin include Gehr, Gerhard, Gerhardts, Gerhardt, Gerhart, Geberth, and Gehre. The common origin of these surnames has its root in the Germanic word 'ger' which means spear. This was a popular reference to be used by the naming of a person in the Middle Ages in Germany, as a spear was a common weapon in warfare.

The use of the surnames such as Gehrt, Gerhard or Gehreth, in different spellings, would indicate a geographical area to the originator of the name. Alternatively, the surname can also denote which family division it belongs to.

Also, keep in mind that some of the surnames Gehrt, Gerhard, Gerhardt, etc., can also be used as a given name. For example - Gerd, Gerhard, Gerhardt, Gerdgehr, Gehrman, and Gehre, which are all derivatives of the surname Gehrt.

Famous people with the name Gehrt

• Edwin Gehrt: conservationist, gardening author, and former executive director of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
• Brian Gehrt: American entrepreneur and CrossFit athlete
• Mark Gehrt: retired German football player, played for Hamburger SV, Werder Bremen, and Galatasaray S.K.
• Max Gehrt: German Paralympic sportsman, a former freestyle swimmer
• Michael Gehrt: German TV presenter, multiple winner of the German Lifestyle Awards
• Dieter Gehrt: former East German slalom canoeist who competed from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s
• Barnabas Gehrt: German physicist and academic educator
• Gunther Gehrt: German judoka, who is practicing in the heavyweight class
• Eric Gehrt: German landscape painter whose works were mainly influenced by realism 10. Guido Gehrt: former East German luge athlete who competed from the late 1940s to the early 1950s

Other surnames

GehrGehrbrandtGehrbrechtGehrckeGehrckenGehrckensGehreckeGehrekeGehresGehretGehrhardtGehrholzGehrichGehrickeGehrikeGehringGehringerGehrkeGehrkenGehrkensGehrkingGehrleGehrleinGehrlichGehrlicherGehrlingGehrloffGehrmannGehrmeyerGehrold