Surname Gehrholz - Meaning and Origin
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Gehrholz: What does the surname Gehrholz mean?
The last name Gehrholz is of German origin and, according to House of Names, dates back to the 13th century. It is derived from the German word “geher” which means hedgerow, or an outdoor fence or enclosure made of wooden stakes and branches. This suggests the surname likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone who lived near or took care of hedgerows.
The Gehrholz surname has spread through Mainland Europe over time and can be found in the United Kingdom, United States and numerously throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
The Gehrholz surname has been recorded in various records dating back to the early 1500s. Examples include those belonging to a Jacob Gehrhold recorded in the Tax Records of Bavaria in 1520 and a Hans Gehrholz of Bavaria mentioned in the 1671 census.
Typically, today those bearing the last name Gehrholz are most likely to be found in the northern part of Germany, particularly near the town of Nordholz which was home to several Gehrholz families in the late 1600s.
It is likely that the surname was used to identify people and families living near the river Ems in the Frisian region around the 8th century. In modern times, Gehrholz is an uncommon surname, but still present in the countries of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom among others.
Order DNA origin analysisGehrholz: Where does the name Gehrholz come from?
The surname Gehrholz is most commonly found in Germany today. Originating from German-speaking areas of Europe, this surname is composed of two elements: “Gehr,” which was used as a reference to an area of land, and “holz,” which means “wood” in German. This lends to the make-up of the Gehrholz name being read “woodland area.”
This surname is most frequently seen in southern Germany, with towns such as Würzburg, Munich, and Augsburg all having a heavily present Gehrholz population. Many of today’s Germans with the Gehrholz last name are the descendants of these ancestral Bavarians who hailed from the region around the time of the early 1700s.
Outside of Germany, the Gehrholz surname can also be found in the United States, Canada, and various regions of Europe, such as France, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia. In the United States, the biggest populations of the Gehrholz surname are located in the Midwest and Northeastern states, namely Illinois, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. This could be due to the wave of German immigration that took place around the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The Gehrholz surname is also found in the British Isles, although it is quite rare. In Scotland, it can be traced back to 1656, while in England the earliest known record of it was found in Cumberland, England in 1841.
Today, the Gehrholz surname continues to be found predominantly in Germany, with the willingness to travel abroad also opening up the possibility to find those with the surname living around the world.
Variations of the surname Gehrholz
The surname Gehrholz originated from Germanic language and the origin of the name can be traced back several centuries. It is derived from the name “Gerhard”, itself a form of the Germanic name “Gerald” or “Gerwald”. It is likely derived from the Germanic elements “ger”, which means “spear” and “hard”, which means brave or strong. Therefore, the name likely refers to someone who is brave or strong.
The family name Gehrholz today has many different variants, spellings and surnames. Some of the common variants include Gehrke, Gehring, Gerickson, Gerhartz, Gehrholtz and Gehrzholtz. Notably, a lot of the variants of the name include the elements “ger” or “hard” as seen in Gerhartz and Gehring. Other variants include Gehrholtzmeier, Gerholzl, Gehrig and Gerlach.
Some of the variants have spread outside of Germany and can be found in other countries. For example, Gehry is a variant found mainly in the Netherlands and Scandinavia. The spelling Gehrholz can also be found used in places such as the United States, Canada and Australia.
In conclusion, the surname Gehrholz is a Germanic word derived from the elements “ger” and “hard”. The surname today has many different variants, spellings and surnames which are spread across the world.
Famous people with the name Gehrholz
- Alex Gehrholz: Alex Gehrholz is a well-known German actor, who is best known for his roles in the television series Kripo Holstein and Tatort.
- Pitzer Gehrholz: Pitzer Gehrholz is an Austrian cinematographer, director, and producer, who has worked on films such as Dog Days and Into the Forest of Fireflies' Light, as well as documentaries on social and political issues.
- Jonathan Gehrholz: Jonathan Gehrholz is an Austrian-American investor and entrepreneur, who is the founder and CEO of the international investment firm Gehrholz Capital Ventures.
- Peter Gehrholz: Peter Gehrholz is a German rancher and businessman, best known for creating the popular beef-based snack product known as “Bohnesis”.
- Philip Gehrholz: Philip Gehrholz is an Austrian pianist who has been performing since his debut in 1973 and is best known for his contemporary classical music compositions.
- Johann Gehrholz: Johann Gehrholz was an Austrian field marshal who served in the Napoleonic Wars and was a recipient of both the Order of Maria Theresa and the Order of Leopold.
- Hans Gehrholz: Hans Gehrholz was a German politician and businessman who served as a member of the German federal parliament from 1949–1953 and was the president of the Federation of German Industries from 1972–1975.
- Tivadar Gehrholz: Tivadar Gehrholz was a Hungarian architect, who was well-known for his Gothic Revival and Art Nouveau style buildings.
- Claude Gehrholz: Claude Gehrholz is a French painter and sculptor, who is most famous for his sculptures of animals and birds.
- Percival Gehrholz: Percival Gehrholz was an American philanthropist, who founded the Gehrholz Foundation, dedicated to supporting medical research and education in the New York City metropolitan area.