Surname Gerrit - Meaning and Origin
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Gerrit: What does the surname Gerrit mean?
The last name Gerrit is of Dutch origin and is derived from the personal name Gerard, which is from the Germanic elements "geri," meaning spear, and "hard," meaning hardy, strong and brave. This personal name was extremely popular throughout Europe during the Middle Ages due to its strong symbolism of bravery and strength. It was also used as a given name to honor the seventh-century Saint Gerard of Toul.
The name Gerrit moved to Holland from Germany in the late 15th century and was a common given name there. It is speculated that people assumed the surname Gerrit when it became fashionable to take on hereditary surnames during this time. Eventually, other variations such as Gerritt, Gerrett and Jerrit emerged.
Today the last name Gerrit is still a common surname in some parts of Europe as well as in the United States. It is often found among Dutch-Americans and has become one of the most popular surnames in the Netherlands.
In a more symbolic sense, the surname Gerrit and its variants represent a person who is strong and brave, someone who stands firm in the face of adversity. It also carries with it a strong sense of honor and loyalty, traits that honor the brave Saint Gerard of Toul.
Order DNA origin analysisGerrit: Where does the name Gerrit come from?
The last name Gerrit is most common today in the Netherlands in Northwest Europe. Historically this surname originated from German-speaking countries, such as Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg, and parts of Belgium. It is thought that the name is derived from the Germanic personal name Gregory or Gerhard, which means “brave with a spear”.
The Netherlands is the most populous country with people bearing the surname Gerrit. In 2019, approximately 32,000 people living in the Netherlands were listed as having the last name Gerrit. Today, this name is also particularly prevalent in the neighboring countries of Belgium and Germany. In Belgium, there were approximately 4,700 people with the last name in 2019, while in Germany there were 8,000 people.
Furthermore, you can find people with the last name Gerrit in the U.S., Canada, Australia and other countries as a result of Dutch and German immigration during the 19th and 20th centuries. According to the US Census of 2020, there are 1,936 people with the last name Gerrit currently living in the United States.
In conclusion, the last name Gerrit is most common in the Netherlands where it originated and is also popular in the countries on the borders, such as Belgium and Germany. It is also widely found in countries where Dutch and German immigrants settled in the past.
Variations of the surname Gerrit
Gerrit is a Dutch surname derived from the Germanic name Gerhardt, which means “brave spear.” Variants of this surname include Gerards, Gerardts, Gerardson, Gerardtson, Gerrits, Gerry, and Gerryts.
Spelling variations of Gerrit include Gerritt, Gerrett, Gerrat, Gerratte, Garret, Garrit, Gerritte, Gerrette, Gerrette, Garett, Garette, Gerritt, Gerrette, Gerate, Gerrate, and Gerate.
Surnames of similar origin and spelling include Gerry, Gerra, Gerrish, Gerrard, Girard, Girrard, Gerhard, Gairard, Girod, Girault, Giraulte, and Garretson.
Gerrit is most common in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany and is also found in France. The surname originated as a patronymic, meaning it was derived from the name of a father and likely indicates a direct paternal line of descent. The first known recorded spelling of the surname was that of Anna Gerritsen, which was dated 1674, in the records of the Dutch Reformed Church, in Amsterdam, North Holland.
Additionally, Gerrit is also an English surname, with variants such as Gerard, Gerrard, and Jerritt. The English surnames originated as an anglicized form of the French and German surnames. The earliest recorded spelling of the surname was that of William Gerret, which was dated 1230, in the "Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire."
Famous people with the name Gerrit
- Jan Gerritsz van Bronckhorst: a Dutch painter
- Gerrit Cole: an American professional baseball pitcher
- Gerrit Smith: an American philanthropist
- Gerrit Dou: a Dutch painter
- Gerrit Bartholomeus van Heemskerck: a Dutch painter
- Johannes Gerrit van de Linde: a Dutch architect
- Gerrit Ybema: a Dutch painter
- Gerrit de Boer: a Dutch painter
- Gerrit Achterberg: a Dutch poet
- Gerrit Smith Miller, Jr.: an American historian