Surname Geffert - Meaning and Origin

Geffert: What does the surname Geffert mean?

The last name Geffert is of German origin, meaning someone from Geffen, a town in the Lower Rhine region of Germany. The family likely originated from this region, and carries with it centuries of traditions and cultural practices passed through generations.

Geffert was historically a name given to a village guard, a man and leader of a small community who kept watch for copying attacks from outsiders. It’s also been linked to a type of ritual marking used by families to denote a special bond between them, such as a marriage or adoption. It’s also been suggested that the name can indicate a kind of profession, such as that of an herbalist or beekeeper.

The Geffert surname is now found in many countries around the world, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, the United States, Australia and New Zealand, to name just a few. It has been adopted by families of all backgrounds, and the meaning has diversified with them. As a result, the name Geffert now holds many meanings to many people.

Regardless of its different interpretations, the Geffert surname carries with it centuries of family legacy and heritage, and is a testament to the strength of the human spirit over time.

Geffert: Where does the name Geffert come from?

The last name Geffert is most common in Germany today. According to statistics from 2015, the most common number of occurrences of the name were recorded in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony, Hamburg, Hesse, and North Rhine-Westphalia.

In addition, the name is also found scattered throughout other regions of the world. In the United States, for example, the name is primarily found in cities across the state of Wisconsin— Milwaukee, Racine, and Madison— although there are small pockets of Germans with the Geffert surname scattered across the country.

In England, the Geffert surname is extremely rare. This is likely due to its localized presence in Germany and other parts of the world.

Elsewhere, the Geffert surname is also found in small instances in France, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and Latin America.

Overall, the Geffert surname is most common in Germany, yet it can be found in small amounts across the world.

Variations of the surname Geffert

The surname Geffert is predominantly of German origin, and is derived from the personal name ‘Gebhard’, meaning strong-hold. The original spelling of the surname, ‘Geffert’, is the most common form, however, there are a few other variants and spellings.

Variants of the surname Geffert include the German variants ‘Geffarth’ or ‘Gefert’. Other variants can be found in French and Czech as well, such as ‘Jeoffroy’ or ‘Jefefort’, respectively.

Surnames of similar origins to Geffert include ‘Gieft’, ‘Geft’ and ‘Gefbert’, all of which are variants of Gebhard. Similarly, there are variations of the name in other countries, such as ‘Gieffers’ in The Netherlands, or ‘Geefs’ in Belgium.

Geffert is also commonly found spelt without the ‘F’, as ‘Geerter’ or ‘Geert’. Other spellings of ‘Geffert’, which include a third ‘F’, or two ‘F’s instead of one, such as ‘Gefffer’, ‘Geffer’ or ‘Gefffer’ are rare; however, this shows that the word ‘Geffert’ has been in use for many centuries.

It is likely that the surname ‘Geffert’ is derived from the Middle-High German ‘Gebhart’, and was used as a nickname for a strong-willed or powerful person. Over the years, many variations of the name have then been adapted as the surname for individuals bearing the name ‘Gebhard’.

Famous people with the name Geffert

• Richard Geffert: German professional footballer
• Jim Geffert: American three-time world champion distance runner
• Erwin Geffert: German swimmer and Olympic athlete
• Laila Geffert: German actress and singer
• Tito Geffert: Argentine field hockey player
• John Geffert: American outdoor advocate and environmentalist
• Karl-Heinz Geffert: German civil engineer and professor
• Ella Geffert: Polish novelist
• Jelena Geffert: Lithuanian-born photographer
• Andreas Geffert: German volleyball player

Other surnames

Geffers