Surname Gierath - Meaning and Origin
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Gierath: What does the surname Gierath mean?
The last name Gierath is of German origin and is derived from the Old German word “ger,” meaning “spear.” As a result, Gierath likely originally meant “spearman”—someone skilled at using a spear in combat. This makes perfect sense, as the Germanic tribes of the Middle Ages typically employed spearmen in their armies.
In terms of the modern day, Gierath is still quite common in Germany and is often spelled as “Gierath”, “Gierat”, or variations thereof. While the specifics may change due to various dialects, the overall meaning of the name remains the same.
Today, those with the surname Gierath are typically associated with reputable professions. This could include farmers, lawyers, and business owners. While the name is likely quite ancient, its meaning remains relevant to this day, as those with the surname Gierath possess a qualities and traits associated with the traditional Germanic way of life.
If you happen to bear the name Gierath, then you are in good company. There are many prominent people with the surname, including Joseph Gierath, a German organist who lived in the 17th century. He was considered by many to be a musical genius of the period. In addition, Theodor Gierath, a German poet and academic, was a successful writer during the 19th century.
Regardless of who has or has not been born under the name Gierath, it is clear that those with the surname have embraced the values found in the meaning of the word—hard work, dedication, and skill.
Order DNA origin analysisGierath: Where does the name Gierath come from?
The last name Gierath is most commonly found in Germany today. In Germany, it is most prevalent in the states of Nordrhein-Westfalen, Baden-Württemberg, and Hessen. In the former two states, it is the 991st and 614th most common last name, respectively. In Hessen, it is the 403rd most common surname. The last name Gierath is also found in countries outside Germany, including the United States, Australia, Austria, and the Netherlands.
In the United States, Gierath can most notably be found in the form of "Gerard" or "Jerrard", variants of the same surname. That being said, Gierath is not a particularly common name within the US, being ranked 4,090 out of 88,799 surnames counted so far. In Australia, Gierath is the 615th most common name, ranked 367th in Austria, and ranked 1,169th in the Netherlands.
The trend of the last name Gierath is that it is most common in Germany, although it is also present in other countries in very small amounts. It is interesting to note that Gierath has many variations within different countries, such as "Gerard" and "Jerrard" in the United States.
Variations of the surname Gierath
The surname Gierath is of German origin and is derived from the Old German name Geirat. Variations of the surname include Gierat, Geerat, Gerat, Gearat, Gyratt, Gyrat, Gyerrat, Gerrot and Gyratt. Variations in spelling of the name Gierath can be attributed to translations from various European languages, dialects, or spelling conventions used in different time periods.
Variants of the Gierath surname are more prominent in Germany and the Netherlands than anywhere else on the continent. In Germany, the name is spelled as Gierat, Geralt and Gerrot. The Netherlands spelling is Geerat or Geerath. The German spelling of Gerrot is usually found in records from Bavaria, while in East Prussia the spelling was Gyrat or Gyratt. In other parts of Germany, the name is usually spelled as Gierat or Gearat.
In France, the name is spelled as Gyrat or Gyratt. In Italian and other Latin-based languages, the name is often spelled as G rat or G eratt. In some cases with a Portuguese origin, the name is spelled as Geraltt. The double "t" at the end of the name is usually associated with the Portuguese language.
In Scotland and other parts of the British Isles, Gierath may be found with the spellings Gierrat, Geerat, Gyrat, and Gyratt. Sometimes, the "G" is replaced with a "J" and thus it becomes spelled as Jerrat, Jerat or Jyrat).
The most common spelling around the world today is Gierath, with Gierat and Gerat being the next most common spellings. Regardless of spelling, all of these names are most likely derived from the Old German name Geirat.
Famous people with the name Gierath
- Kristina Gierath, German athlete
- Wolfgang Gierath, neonatologist and president of the German Society for Neonatology and Paediatric Intensive Care
- Al Gierath, American basketball player
- Ryan Gierath, American football player
- Dr. Robert Gierath, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Acadia Healthcare
- Christian Gierath, Austrian actor
- Gerhard Gierath, German politician of the CDU
- Hans-Jochen Gierath, German professor
- Wulf Gierath, German professor and scientist
- Ursula Gierath, German alpine skier