Surname Girhards - Meaning and Origin
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Girhards: What does the surname Girhards mean?
The last name Girhards is of German origin, derived from the given name Gero, which comes from the Germanic element gari, which means “spear”. The surname is said to be a patronymic, which indicates that it refers to the descendants of Gero. The most common spelling of the name is Girhards, although it can also be found as Gerhards, Girhardts, Gerhardts, Gerhardson, Gerhartz and various other variants.
The meaning of the name Girhards is something along the lines of “spear warrior” or “one who carries a spear”. In Germanic mythology, spears were seen as powerful and protective symbols, and having the name Girhards was likely intended to denote a strong, valiant and noble lineage. This would make the name even further of a source of pride to its bearers.
Those with the surname Girhards can be found in many parts of the world. Girhards is widely found in Germany, where it is the 583rd most common surname. From Germany, the name spread to the USA, where it is the 6,728th most common surname, to the United Kingdom, where it is the 7,509th most common, and to Sweden, where it is the 1,395th most common.
Order DNA origin analysisGirhards: Where does the name Girhards come from?
The last name Girhards (sometimes spelled Girhardsen) is most commonly found in Northern Europe and Scandinavia. It is especially concentrated in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, with smaller populations in Germany, Estonia, and Finland.
Girhards is an occupational surname stemming from the Middle High German word “girhart,” which meant an intentional cutter, a worker who cuts and arranges fabrics, like a tailor or a dressmaker. It is thought that the name was likely given to a worker who had skill and knowledge in the art of cutting and arranging fabrics.
There are a few well-known namesakes of the Girhards surname today. In Norway, there is Hans Olav Girhardsen, a politician; in Sweden, there is Martha Sofia Girhards, an artist; and in the United States, there is John Girhards, a professor of English at the University of Connecticut.
Today, the Girhards surname is not particularly common. It is estimated that there are fewer than ten thousand individuals with the Girhards surname living in Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand. The surname is gradually being replaced by new, more contemporary surnames, which suggests that the older generation of Girhards could be the last “bearers” of the Girhards name.
Variations of the surname Girhards
The surname Girhards is an ancient French family name that is a variation of Gerard, which is one of the most famous Old French Germanic names. It originated in France during the Middle Ages and was borne by one of Charlemagne's most important military leaders. Girhards and its variants are still popular in France, where it is one of the top 100 most common last names.
The main variants of the name are Girard, Giraud, Girault and Giraut. All of them have slightly different spellings and pronunciation depending on the region in which they are used. The surname also has a great number of alternative spellings including Girardin, Giraudy, Giroud, Girod, Giron and Girott.
The surname Girhards is found all over the world amongst the descendants of French immigrants. In America, it is mainly found among Americans of Acadian descent as well as in parts of southeastern Canada. In the United Kingdom, it is mainly found in Northern regions which were under French rule, such as Devon and Cornwall.
Girhards is one of many surnames that have been anglicized in different forms. Common anglicized forms of the name are Gird, German, Gerhard, Gerhardt, Girhard, Gerharde, Girhardi and Girando.
In modern times, the surname Girhards is borne by families of aristocratic background as well as commoners, all of whom can trace their descent back to one of the earliest French families.
Famous people with the name Girhards
- Vanessa Girhards: She is a French singer who rose to fame as a member of the pop trio Conc3pt.
- Alexandre Girhards: Alexandre Girhards is a French entrepreneur and businessperson.
- Bruce Girhards: Bruce Girhards is an American artist and photographer known for his abstract landscape paintings.
- Kristina Girhards: Kristina Girhards is an Austrian actress and model.
- Benoît Girhards: Benoît Girhards is a French film director and screenwriter known for his romantic comedies.
- Marianne Girhards: Marianne Girhards is a German model and actress, best known for her roles in TV series such as Geissendörfer's Paradise and Ein Fall für Angela.
- Michaël Girhards: Michaël Girhards is a French actor and director, best known for his roles in productions such as Marcel Pagnol's Harvest and Otto Preminger'soto Preminger's Staircase.
- Eugenie Girhards: Eugenie Girhards is a French fashion designer who established her own couture house, Eugenie Girhards Haute Couture, in 2009.
- Joshua Girhards: Joshua Girhards is an American basketball player and three-time college basketball champion.
- Will Girhards: Will Girhards is an American journalist and author who has written extensively about the history of baseball.