Surname Geißenhöner - Meaning and Origin
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Geißenhöner: What does the surname Geißenhöner mean?
The last name Geißenhöner is of German origin and dates back to the middle ages. The name is derived from the words “Geiß” meaning goat, and “höner” meaning horns. This likely indicates that the original family were livestock farmers who kept goats on their land.
The family may also have been involved in the making of goat leather products or the manufacturing of goods such as saddles, bridles and other horse riding equipment as well as shoes and harnesses made from leather.
The Geißenhöner spelling of the name can also be seen in records from as early as 1277. This indicates its long tradition and prevalence in the agricultural sector of Germany.
Today, those named Geißenhöner tend to have occupations within the same industries. They could work as leather workers, farmers, agricultural equipment manufacturers, butchers or related career paths.
In addition to being an occupational surname, Geißenhöner could also be a locational surname, suggesting origins from the places of Geißen in Saxony, Hesse, and Bavaria.
Tracing ancestry through the Geißenhöner name is thus complex, but ultimately revolves around a long tradition of agriculture and livestock-tending in Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisGeißenhöner: Where does the name Geißenhöner come from?
The last name Geißenhöner is not very common today. It is mostly found in the German-speaking areas of Germany, especially in the region of Saxony-Anhalt. The name is believed to have originated in the medieval period and is thought to be derived from the German word "geig", meaning "goat".
The earliest record of the name is from the mid-16th century, linked to the city of Rastede in Lower Saxony. Records show that members of the Geißenhöner family were present in the city as early as 1573.
The majority of the Geißenhöner family today live in the states of Saxony-Anhalt, Lower Saxony, Berlin, Bavaria and Hesse. There are also smaller populations in the Netherlands, Finland and the United States.
The name Geißenhöner is fairly rare in the United States. In 2019, there were fewer than 400 people in the US with the name Geißenhöner, and most of them live in larger states like New York, Pennsylvania, and California.
Regardless of its rarity, the Geißenhöner family has a long history in Germany, and today is still mostly concentrated in the German-speaking areas of Germany.
Variations of the surname Geißenhöner
The surname Geißenhöner is of German origin, with multiple possibilities of its variants and spellings, as well as related surnames.
Geißenhöner itself is potentially derived from the German noun 'Geißen', meaning 'he-goat', and 'Höner', referring to 'buzz', a sound connected to animals such as bees and goats. Thus, it may have been given to an ancestor who either kept goats or was associated in some other way with them.
The most commonly seen alternative spelling of this name is Geissenhoner. Other possibilities include Geisenhouner, Geissenhauner, Geißenhoner and Gaissenhoner. As there is regional variation in German pronunciation, other spellings of the same name such as Gassenhauer, Gaysenhauer and Gessenhauer can be found.
Related surnames derived from this surname are possibly Gehsenhöner, Gehsenhauer, Geissenberger and Geissenton.
In conclusion, Geißenhöner comes with many variants in terms of spelling, as well as related surnames. While the core of the name is derived from the German noun 'Geißen' and 'Höner', which may have referred to a goat-keeping ancestor, variations in pronunciation and spelling have allowed it to take on alternative forms.
Famous people with the name Geißenhöner
- Jan-Helge Geißenhöner: Soccer coach from Germany who has been the head coach for a number of clubs, having most recently served as the head coach of Ayr United.
- Andreas Geißenhöner: German judoka who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
- Wilhelm Geißenhöner: German Olympic boxer who participated in the 1928 Summer Olympics and won a silver medal in the lightweight division.
- Paul Geißenhöner: Former Formula One driver from Germany who competed in 10 races for the Ensign, ATS and Williams teams from 1976 to 1981.
- Alfred Geißenhöner: German professional golfer who competed in the 1932 Open Championship.
- Josef Geißenhöner: German athlete who participated in the 1924 Summer Olympic games competing in the men's 50 kilometer walk.
- Maria Geißenhöner: Professional basketball player from Germany who played for the German national team.
- Brigitte Geißenhöner: Professional badminton player from Germany. She has won numerous medals at the World and European Championships and has been ranked in the top 10 in the world rankings since 2006.
- Sabine Geißenhöner: Professional beach volleyball player from Germany. She has won numerous international tournaments and represented Germany at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
- Jürgen Geißenhöner: Professional tennis player from Germany who has won several ATP titles and represented Germany in Davis Cup matches.