Surname Giessen - Meaning and Origin
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Giessen: What does the surname Giessen mean?
The surname Giessen is of German origin, derived from a location in Germany known as Gießen. Gießen is a city in the middle of Germany in the federal state of Hesse, and has been mentioned as early as 899 A.D. in historical documents.
The surname Giessen can have a variety of meanings, but is most likely derived from the German word Gießen, meaning to pour or irrigate. This is due to the location of the city of Gießen, which is situated close to a major river, and likely means that the ancestors of those with the Giessen last name were involved in the agricultural process of irrigation.
Giessen is also the German word for ‘to give’, which could be another possible origin for the surname. It could suggest that the ancestors of those with the surname had a generous nature. The name could have even been given to someone who gave generously to the community.
Overall, the surname Giessen is thought to have two possible origins, derived from either the German word Gießen meaning to pour or irrigate, or the German word Giessen meaning to give. These two possible meanings both make sense when considering the location of the city of Giessen and the importance of generosity to the community.
Order DNA origin analysisGiessen: Where does the name Giessen come from?
The last name Giessen is most commonly found today in Germany, where it is particularly concentrated in the northwest of the country around the cities of Osnabrück, Bielefeld, and Göttingen. It is also found in the Netherlands and throughout many other countries of Europe.
Giessen is an occupational surname, derived from a geographical location and typically said to have originated with a person who lived near a guild house in the town of Giessen. The town itself is in the state of Hesse, in the western section of Germany. Even today, the majority of Giessens still reside in Hesse, Bavaria, and in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Giessen is a popular surname internationally, with over 79,000 people in Germany bearing the last name in 2015. It is also found in small numbers in other countries including United States, Canada, Australia, Russia and Mexico. In the United States, the surname is most common in North Carolina, Ohio, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and California, with some variants of the surname being anglicized as Gysin, Gyse, Gysen, Geesen, and Joswiak.
The etymology of the name Giessen suggests that the name was derived from the Middle High German for ‘dwelling by a pond’. As an occupational name, it was most likely taken on by a person who worked as a wicker weaver or lived by a fox den near a lake or pond.
Variations of the surname Giessen
The surname Giessen (or Gießen) has many variants of spelling and surnames of the same origin. Some of these variants include Gesser, Gossen, Gessen, Gésen, Gísen, Güsen, Gisen, and Giesen.
Gessen is typically of German origin, stemming from the small city in the state of Hesse. Giessen, meaning “stream”, is derived from the name of the city and is also known as the ancestral name of Giessen.
Gossen is also a variant of the surname Giessen, and is derived from a dialectal variation of the German word “Güssen”. This variant is believed to be an occupational name, indicating a family who made or sold tools.
Gésen is usually a variation of the surname Giessen, used in French and Dutch-speaking regions. It is believed to be derived from the same German city, and is also assumed to have originated from an occupational name.
Gísen is a variation of the family name which is believed to be of Czech origin. It is thought to be derived from the Czech word for pots, “Gise”, implying that the family may have had an occupation in pottery.
Güsen is a variant of the surname Giessen that is believed to have originated in eastern Germany. It is thought to be an occupational name, potentially derived from the Middle High German word “güssen”, meaning to pour.
Gisen is a variant which is thought to be of Italian origin. It is suggested to have been adapted from the Italian word for “jester”, gise, indicating an occupation in clowning or theatrical performance.
Finally, Giesen is a variant of the Giessen surname which is itself derived from the German city. This variant is believed to have been derived from “gewissen”, a Middle High German word meaning “strangers”, implying that the family may have originally been newcomers to the area.
Famous people with the name Giessen
- Max Giessen: German actor and director
- Manfred Giessen: German football (soccer) player
- Meyer Max Giessen: German entrepreneur and philanthropist
- Oskar Gießen: German painter
- Gerd Gießen: German classical philologist and historian
- Jane Giessen: American essayist and theatre director
- Riccardo Giessen: Italian sailing champion
- Axela Gießen: German journalist and anthologist
- David Giessen: American founding editor of Unshod Quills
- Bernhard Giessen: Swiss theologian