Surname Gisen - Meaning and Origin
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Gisen: What does the surname Gisen mean?
The last name Gisen is of German origin and is an occupational name derived from the Middle High German word “Guzze” meaning “margrave” or “bailiff”. As such, the surname is believed to have originally been given to an aristocrat or local official whose job consisted of keeping peace, enforcing laws, and collecting taxes. Over time, the original meaning may have been lost and the name Gisen could have come to mean any man who held a relatively prominent position within his community.
It is also possible that the name Gisen is derived from a location; there are several places where the name is still in use today. These locations include Gisenau in Switzerland, Gisen in Luxembourg, and Gisen in Bavaria, Germany. In any case, the ultimate origin of the last name Gisen remains uncertain.
In modern times, the name Gisen has become widespread across Europe and can be found in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia. It is a symbol of the German culture’s influence and presence worldwide. Since the name is widely recognized, it can offer a sense of cultural connection and identity for those who bear it.
Order DNA origin analysisGisen: Where does the name Gisen come from?
The last name Gisen is most commonly found in Switzerland today. It is believed to be an old Swiss-German surname, though it can be found spread across a few other countries in Europe.
The Gisen surname likely started out as a geographic designation for someone from a place called Gisen or Gisenweg, which is now in the administrative district of Meilen in the canton of Zürich, Switzerland. It then became a fixed name for people living in the same geographic area. The name's reference to a geographical location suggests that the family originated from this same area and has been in Switzerland since the Middle Ages.
In Switzerland, records suggest that Gisen is one of the thirty three most common surnames in the country. It is also present in the neighboring countries of Austria, Germany, and France. This family likely spread outward from Switzerland during the 19th and 20th century. As of 2017, Gisen is one of the top 190 surnames in Switzerland.
The Gisen surname is well-known in Switzerland, but it has also been popularized outside of the country in recent decades. This is due in part to its more recent use in popular media as the last name of a fictional Swiss detective.
Variations of the surname Gisen
The surname Gisen has many variants, spellings, and related surnames.
Gisen is the original spelling of the surname, but Wilkens, Gillis, Geesen, Geissen, Geesman, Geisz, Geiss, Gisem, and Gijsmann are all derived from the same roots. These surnames were mainly used in Germany, the Netherlands, and Northern France during the 16th and 17th centuries.
The name Gisen is also related to Geisen, Geisenhain, Geisenhofer, Geisenhans, Geisinger, Geißenkirchner, Geißenschmitt, Geißenmüller, Geißer, Geißmer, and Geißeling. With the changing of the times, some of these forms have evolved into other variations, such as Geissinger, Geissenhain, and Geising.
Gisen also shares part of its root with the British surname Gise. This surname is considered to be of Saxon origin, although there is still some dispute over this. There is also a Flemish surname Gijsen which may derive from the same origin.
In Scotland, the surnames Gusson and Gazzam may be related to Gisen as well. They are both variations of the same root, Gero, which derives from the same Germanic root.
When tracing family history and looking for variant spellings, one should keep in mind that different spellings and forms of the same name can be found in different locations and different language areas. Knowing the language areas can be helpful when trying to track down familial roots and histories.
Famous people with the name Gisen
- Tomonobu Gisen: Edo period samurai and courtier who served the Tokugawa shogunate.
- Sanran Gisen: a Buddhist monk who served as an envoy of Toyotomi Hideyoshi to the Chinese court during the Japanese invasions of Korea in the 1590s.
- Midori Gisen: Japanese female sumo wrestler who made history by becoming the first female professional sumo wrestler.
- Masaru Gisen: professional Go and shogi player who won the 36th Meijin title and the 21st Kisei title in Japan.
- Hiroyuki Gisen: Japanese musician and composer who is best known for his work with Jazz fusion groups such as King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard.
- Toshihiko Gisen: Japanese shogi player who won the Meijin title four times as well as the Kisei title twice.
- Yutaka Gisen: Japanese football player who has played with many of Japan's top teams, including Vissel Kobe and Urawa Red Diamonds.
- Akiko Gisen: well-known Japanese musician, composer, and fiddle player who has released many albums and appeared on television shows.
- Kenji Gisen: award-winning Japanese film and television director who has directed films such as Gegege no Kitaro and Death Note.
- Masanobu Gisen: award-winning Japanese graphic novelist and manga artist who has created popular series such as Bushido: The Sword of Justice.