Surname Giscard - Meaning and Origin
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Giscard: What does the surname Giscard mean?
The last name Giscard is of French origin and is most commonly found in Southwestern France. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "gis" or "jus," meaning "juice or sap." The name could therefore mean someone who was a juice or sap collector, or someone who had an occupation related to the production of juice or sap.
The Giscard surname can also be derived from the medieval French noun "gise," meaning a "large block of wood," suggesting that people may have adopted the surname after their occupation of cutting and selling these large blocks of wood.
Today, Giscard is a very common surname in France. It is estimated that there are over 8000 people with this surname living in France today, mostly in the regions of Aquitaine and French Guiana.
The Giscard family is also found in other countries in Europe, the Caribbean, the Americas, Africa and Asia. In the United States, for instance, it is estimated that over 900 people have the Giscard surname.
Overall, the Giscard surname is very much intertwined with French history and culture. Its origins suggest that it is connected to occupations involving the harvesting or selling of juice or sap. As such, it is a name that carries with it a rich and diverse history.
Order DNA origin analysisGiscard: Where does the name Giscard come from?
The last name Giscard is most common today in France, where it holds its origin. Giscard is a French surname, derived from the Germanic personal name Giselbert. The surname has been used in France since the 12th century and can be found in several old French documents. It may have been brought to France by the Normans who invaded the country in 1066.
Today, the Giscard name is found mainly in southeastern France, in both metropolitan France and the overseas territories. The region of Midi Pyrénées, which includes the cities of Toulouse and Carcassonne, has the highest concentration of the name. The Giscards in this region are descended from noble families who arrived in the 12th century and whose domains were scattered throughout the land.
The Giscard name can also be found in other parts of Europe, notably in Belgium and Luxembourg. Giscard immigrants to these countries are likely to have departed France during the 17th and 18th centuries, when Europe experienced a wave of migrations.
Outside of Europe, the Giscard name is especially prevalent in French-speaking areas of the world such as Algeria, Morocco, Martinique and Guadeloupe. The Giscard family continues to be present in French culture, with prominent members, including the former president and prime minister of France, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing.
Variations of the surname Giscard
The surname Giscard is of French origin and derives from the Middle French word “gis” which means “a sided piece or stick.” This name is most commonly found in the region of France, but variations of this name can be found throughout Europe, including in countries such as Spain, Germany, Poland, Luxembourg, England, and the Netherlands.
Variations of the surname Giscard include Giscart, Giskard, Giscourd, and Gissard. Commonly encountered alternate spellings of the surname Giscard are Giscardt, Giskardt, Gischard, Giskard, Gissardt, Gyscard, Gyskard, Gyskardt, Gyschard, Gyschardt, and Gyskart.
The Giscard surname is sometimes seen with other surnames with the same origin, such as Girard, Giraud, Pretot, Pretot-Giscard, and Pretot-Giscard-Giraud.
Giscard is an especially common surname in France, where it is sometimes seen with the regionally employed spelling Giscart.
In the United States, Giscard is often seen with the French-Canadian variant spellings Jiscard and Gescard.
In Italy, this surname is usually seen as Giscardi or Giscards. The Giscardi and Giscards surnames have their origins in the northern Italian province of Lombardy.
In Germany, Luxembourg, and Poland, the surname is often seen as Gyskart, Gyscard, or Gyskard.
In England, Giscard is occasionally seen with the spelling Gyschard.
In the Netherlands, this surname is usually encountered with the spelling Giskart.
Famous people with the name Giscard
- Valéry Giscard d'Estaing: Former President of France (1974-1981) and Member of European Parliament.
- Jacques Giscard d'Estaing: Valéry's older brother, current Senator for Loir-et-Cher and former member of Assemblee Nationale (1973-1993).
- Charles Giscard d'Estaing: Valéry's son, an entrepreneur and businessman.
- Marie Giscard d'Estaing: Valéry's daughter, a French businesswoman and politician.
- Augustin Giscard d'Estaing: Valéry's Grandfather , french jurist and senator.
- Jean-Paul Themines: former minister in Valéry's government and current president of Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans.
- Jean-Jacques Giscard de la Tour: Mayor of St-Affrique, France
- Clémence Giscard d’Estaing: Valéry’s wife.
- Amaury Giscard d'Estaing: Valéry’s grandson and musician.
- Marie-Caroline Giscard d’Estaing: Valéry's granddaughter.
- Germaine Giscard d'Estaing: Valéry's aunt, French politician.
- Jacques Giscard de Carcy: Valéry's great-granduncle, a French lawyer and politician.
- Charles-Roux Giscard d'Estaing: Valéry's grandfather, doctor of medicine, professor of clinical surgery in Angers.