Surname Gerding - Meaning and Origin

Gerding: What does the surname Gerding mean?

The last name Gerding is an ancient German surname that originated in the Middle Ages. The surname is derived from the personal name Gerhard, meaning "bold spear." It is a baptismal name, which means it was originally given to the child of a Christian family to indicate a spiritual connection.

In Germany, the spelling of Gerding is most commonly seen in the north and western regions. It is an occupational last name, referring to either a stonemason or tilemaker. Over time, those with the last name Gerding have become more widely dispersed throughout Europe and North America and now live in many different countries.

Most people with the Gerding surname are found in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. In Germany, the highest concentrations of people with the surname are found in the northwest region, particularly in the states of Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Hesse.

Today, the Gerding name remains prominent. In parts of the United States, descendants of the early Gerding immigrants have made the name quite recognizable. One example is American television personality Sherri Shepherd, who is of German descent and has the Gerding surname. She has been seen on the shows The View and 30 Rock.

Overall, the Gerding surname has a rich past, having survived centuries and numerous changes in language and spelling. With its foundation in German culture, it is now one of the most prominent last names throughout much of the world.

Gerding: Where does the name Gerding come from?

The last name Gerding is most commonly found today in Germany. As of 2018, the surname was most prevalent in North Rhine-Westphalia, where it was the 2,416th most common surname. It is also found in sizable numbers in Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and Saxony-Anhalt. Small numbers of Gerdings can also be found in the US, Netherlands, Canada and France.

The name “Gerding” is derived from the Old German term “gerd” which means spear. This last name is likely to have been given to a family of skilled spear-smiths or warriors during the Middle Ages. The spelling of the surname has changed throughout the centuries; in medieval documents, it was sometimes written as “Gerdynge.”

The Gerding family tree is widespread throughout Germany but there are also smaller branches located in other countries, including the US. Immigrants from Germany are to thank for the name’s spread abroad. In 1880, the US census recorded 66 individual Gerdings living in various parts of the country. Today, descendants of this branch can be found in numerous cities, from New York to California.

The global population of individuals with the last name Gerding is small but it remains an important part of German heritage. The name is a reminder of the family’s endurance and resilience that have withstood the test of time.

Variations of the surname Gerding

The surname Gerding is of Low German and Dutch origin. Variants of the surname include the following spellings: Gerdingen, Gerding, Gerdink, Gertink, Garting, Gerting, and Gartink.

The Dutch family name Gerdingen is derived from people who lived in the locations of Goes or Terschelling in the province of Zeeland. This name is a variant of Geertink or Geertinken. It is believed to have taken its name from the person who was the owner of a farm known as Gerding.

In Germany, the surname Gerding is from the eastern Low German region of East Prussia and a variant of Gerdin. It also originates from the same root as Gerdingen, but in this case, the family took its name from their place of residence in East Prussia.

In some cases, the surname Gerding may be linked to farming families with the name Garting or Gartink. In other cases, it may be from the name Gerting, meaning a reed gatherer.

In the Netherlands and Flanders, the surnames Gertink and Gerdink are very common variants of the original Gerding surname. Gertink is derived from the Dutch elements gher (spear) and tink (maker), and literally means “spear maker”. Gerdink is also a Dutch, Westphalian, and Low German surname, derived from the personal name Gerd or Gerhard.

In addition, the surname Gerding is also linked to the Swedish surname Geding. The Swedish name Geding has the same root as Gerding, derived from a place name, in this case a location of Göding in the county of Uppland.

Famous people with the name Gerding

• Caroline Gerding, Former Secretary of State of Louisiana
• Roman Gerding, retired German footballer
• Brian Gerding, American painter
• John Gerding, counter intelligence officer
• Bill Gerding, American football coach
• John G. Gerding, Jr., American attorney
• Daniel Gerding, German artist
• Stephen Gerding, American actor
• Veronika Gerding, German artist
• Timon Gerding, German swimmer
• Tom Gerding, American football player
• Walter Gerding, sculptor
• Peter Gerding, German composer
• Daniel Gerding, German sculptor
• David Gerding, American theater director
• Artur Gerding, German cyclist
• April Gerding, American theatre, film and television actress
• Michelle Gerding, German journalist

Other surnames

Gerdin