Surname Gies - Meaning and Origin
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Gies: What does the surname Gies mean?
The last name Gies is derived from the German word Geiss, which refers to the domesticated goat species, Capra aegagrus hircus. The name is also a common regional variant of the German name Geise, meaning 'nanny goat'. This name was most likely given to someone who lived near goats, likely as a reference to their occupation working with the animals.
The use of the last name is mainly found in the area of Germany from which it originated, though its geographic impact has spread into the Netherlands, and other areas throughout Europe.
Gies is usually thought of a name associated with German and Dutch ancestry. However, it has also been adopted by people of other European ethnicities, such as French and Greek.
The name Gies is seen as an occupational name today, as it is still used to refer to a shepherd or goat herder. However, there are many other ways in which the name can be used, such as a surname given to someone who worked at a dairy or a chocolate maker, due to the presence of goats in these occupations.
Due to its origins in Europe, it is rare to find someone bearing the last name of Gies outside of European countries, or those of European descent in other countries.
Order DNA origin analysisGies: Where does the name Gies come from?
The last name Gies is primarily found in Germany and other German-speaking countries. According to a search through the International Genealogical Index (IGI) in 2021, the most common locations for the Gies surname are Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, and Denmark.
In Germany, the Gies surname is most common in the northern regions of Saxony, Mecklenburg, and Pomerania. It is also found in large numbers in major cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich.
In Europe, the Gies surname is especially prevalent in the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, and France, although its presence is much less than in German-speaking countries. In the Netherlands, it is almost exclusively found in the province of Gelderland.
The highest concentration for the Gies surname resides in the United States of America. In the states of Wisconsin and Minnesota, the surname is especially common due to the large numbers of German immigrants who arrived in the nineteenth century. In Wisconsin, it is the 60th most frequently recorded surname, whilst in Minnesota it is the 67th.
In conclusion, the Gies surname is especially common in Germany and other German-speaking countries, however, it is also found in decent numbers in the United States of America and several European countries. It is also found in small numbers in countries such as Canada, Brazil, South Africa, and Australia.
Variations of the surname Gies
The surname Gies is a German or Dutch surname derived from the Middle High German word “gîs”, which means “gift”. The name has been spelled in many different ways over centuries, such as Gies, Geis, Gess, Gees and Gheis.
In Germany, the variants of Gies include Gies, Gis, Giess, Geis, Gees, Gess and Gheis. In Dutch, the most common variants are Gees, Geess and Geis.
The variant Gees is also common in the Dutch province of Zeeland, where it is thought to have originated. In Luxembourg the form Giess is used, while in South Tyrol Geis is the more common variant.
In some countries the surname has been altered to form additional variants, such as Geist in Austria, Giest in Poland, and Gheys in Belgium. In France, the spelling has also been altered and now appears as Giss, Gius, Gisier, Gyss and Geyss.
In American records the surname has been spelled in a variety of ways, such as Geis, Gees, Giess, Gies, Gys, Giz, Gise and Gisee.
The most prominent related surnames are Giesecke, Giesler and Geisler. These are all related to the original Germanic surname Gis. In addition, some people with the surname Gis have adopted other unrelated surnames over time, such as Giesau, Gieser and Giesel.
Famous people with the name Gies
- Oskar Gies, an American painter.
- Corrie van Giesen, a Dutch social anthropologist.
- Hermann Gies, a German architect.
- Helmut Gies, a German entomologist.
- Walter Gieseking, a French pianist.
- Walter Gieseking, a German architect and interior designer.
- Karl Gies, an Austrian architect.
- Otto Gies, a German chess master.
- Felix Gies, a German film director.
- Johanna Gies, the first wife of Otto Frank.
- Joseph Goebbels' wife Magda Goebbels, née Gies-Qu