Surname Gschwendt - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Gschwendt: What does the surname Gschwendt mean?
Gschwendt is a surname of German origin. The literal translation of the word “Gschwendt” is “bend”, meaning to turn or twist. As such, the surname has been present in Germany since at least the 11th century when it was associated with a family living near modern day Neckargemünd in Germany.
Due to its location at the time, there have been several variations on the name. For example, in western Germany it may be spelled “Gschwint” or “Gscheint”, whereas in the east it could be “Gschwindt” or “Gschwont”.
The most likely origin of the name is derived from the Middle High German word “schwende” which was a name given to local travellers or peddlers, most likely because of their constant travelling and twisting paths. As such, this could suggest that the people with this surname were likely to have descended from traders or peddlers travelling across Germany.
Although, it is also possible that the name Gschwendt was adopted as a surname after the profession of the family head, as was commonly done during the Middle Ages.
As for those with this surname today, it can be found all across Germany as well as in other European countries, the United States, and even Australia. It is likely that their ancestors emigrated from Germany and took the name with them to their new home.
Order DNA origin analysisGschwendt: Where does the name Gschwendt come from?
The surname Gschwendt is most common today in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other German-speaking countries throughout Central and Eastern Europe. It has its origins in the German word “Gschwend”, which in turn can be traced back to the Latin word “qualis”, meaning “of what kind”, suggesting that those with this name may have originally been known for their unique qualities.
As a result, it is not surprising that the surname is most prominent in areas where German-speaking populations are concentrated. In Germany itself, Gschwendt is most commonly found in the southern regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, while its highest density in Austria can be found in the states of Lower Austria and Styria. There is also a considerably large presence of the name in Swiss cantons such as Bern, Basel Stadt and Zurich.
At the same time, the surname has also spread to other areas beyond Central Europe. Records of Gschwendts can now be found in many countries across the world, and especially in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Overall, it is estimated that up to a million people worldwide now bear this name.
Variations of the surname Gschwendt
The surname Gschwendt is a German surname derived from the geographical region of Schwaben, in modern day Bavaria, Germany. The following variants of the name are all related: Gschwend, Gschwander, Gschwinder, Gschwentner, Gschwentter, Gschwenzer, Gschwenter, Gschwanderer, Gschwandtner and Gschwendter.
The spelling variants of Gschwendt include Gschlundt, Gschlentz, Gschwintz, Gschwyndt, Gschwyndty, Gschwyntz, Gschryndty, Gschwand, Gschwintz, Gschwyndtr, Gschwyndtyr, Gschwyntzysl and Gschwyndt.
Gschwend, Gschwander, Gschwinder, Gschwentner, Gschwenter, Gschwentter, Gschwendter, Gschwandtner and Gschwenzer are all surnames which have the same origin as Gschwendt.
The brand of name Gschwendt can also be found in Austria, as the name is quite popular in the country due to the neighbouring historical connection between Germany and Austria. This variant goes by the spelling of Gschwantner as well as Gschwant.
The surname Gschwendt can be found in other languages such as Dutch, where the spelling variation is Gschlientz, in Swedish, where the variation is Gschwindt, and in Danish, where the variation is Gschwentz.
Other rare but associated variants of the name Gschwendt include Gschwind, Gschwentz and Gschwindter.
Famous people with the name Gschwendt
- Andreas Gschwendt: Austrian sprint canoeist who competed at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics
- Manuel Gschwendtner: Austrian theatre and film director
- Manuela Gschwendtner: Austrian alpine skier
- Raffael Gschwendtner: Austrian slalom canoeist
- Aaron Gschwendt: Austrian footballer
- Eric Gschwendt: American tennis player
- Fabian Gschwendtner: Austrian footballer
- Max Gschwendtner: Austrian painter
- Sascha Gschwendtner: Austrian footballer
- Winfried Gschwendtner: German historian and professor