Surname Gerholt - Meaning and Origin
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Gerholt: What does the surname Gerholt mean?
The last name Gerholt is of German origin, and came from the Middle High German word "Garolt" meaning "spear ruler". It is believed that the first ancestor of the Gerholt family was a leader who was masterful in wielding a spear.
The meaning of this surname is believed to refer to the person being a strong leader, or someone who was a good warrior or hunter. Being one of the few people who had the skills to use spears, they were highly respected in their community.
The Gerholt family first arrived in Germany in the 15th century. The name is still found in some parts of Germanic Europe, such as Switzerland, Austria, and Germany, as well as in places that have German immigrants.
The Gerholt family was a distinct group of people who stood out from other families. Regardless of their origin, the Gerholts were a people with a strong sense of tradition and honor. Over time, the Gerholts have passed down many skills, values, and beliefs from generation to generation in order to ensure the continuation of their clan.
Even though the Gerholt family has become more widely spread throughout Europe, they still hold onto their traditional family values and pride in their past. Today, many Gerholts are known for their kindness, loyalty, and strength. They remain leaders in their community and are respected for their knowledge.
Order DNA origin analysisGerholt: Where does the name Gerholt come from?
The last name Gerholt is most commonly found today in Europe. It is an occupational name that originated with German workers, most likely used to describe a metalworker. This suggests that the name likely spread from Germany to neighboring countries and is most common in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. The surname can also be found in North America, particularly in the United States and Canada, with the first instance of the name in Canada appearing in the 1880s.
Gerholt is a lesser-known surname today, as only around 500 individuals in the world currently have the name. This suggests that the surname has lost popularity in the past few centuries. Nevertheless, it has still managed to remain present in many countries. As such, those with the name who can trace their ancestry have a particularly special connection to German craftsmanship. What is certain is that the name has a deep history and is likely to remain present in many countries for years to come.
Variations of the surname Gerholt
The Gerholt surname is a German habitational name from a place in Saxony, north-east Germany. The earliest recorded use of the surname dates back to the 17th century, when it was used to refer to someone from the area, and later to refer to a family from there.
Variants of the name Gerholt include Gahrholz, Garholtz, Gehrhold, Gerhold, Girholz, and Gürholz. Spelling variations also exist, such as Gerhald, Gerhold, and Garholdt.
The surnames and variants of Gerholt are derived from the Middle High German word “gari”, meaning “spear”. This name is found in particular in the form of “Gäriholz”, which means “wood of the spear”. This indicates that so far back in history, spears were primarily used as a method of defense from oncoming hostilities.
Interestingly, the “Gari” root of the name Gerholt is generally accepted to be of Jewish origin, despite not being originally a Jewish surname. It’s theorized that the name may have been taken on during the times of persecution in the 17th and 18th centuries, in order to disguise Jewish ancestry. There is substantial evidence of names being changed in this way by those in need of refuge, so it’s entirely possible that the Gerholt surname was part of that tradition.
In some cases, the surname has been changed to Gerhart, Gerhartz, Gerhardt or Gerhardtz, although these spellings are generally associated with families of Jewish descent. Other related surnames include Garhalts, Gahlotz, Gerholtz, Gerhalds, or Gerhaldz.
Famous people with the name Gerholt
- Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676): A German Lutheran hymn writer and poet.
- Johanna Gerholt (1882-1959): A Norwegian letter writer, writer and feminist.
- Lars Gerholt (born 1960): A Swiss competitive discus thrower.
- Alexander Gerholt (born 1993): A Swiss professional ice hockey player.
- Bert Gerholt (born 1936): A German sculptor and Expressionist painter.
- Eric Gerholt (born 1964): A Dutch journalist, writer and avant-garde filmmaker.
- Arne Gerholt (born 1945): A Norwegian dairy farmer and politician.
- Inger Gerholt (1908-1994): A Swedish Olympic fencer.
- Kalle Gerholt (born 1970): A Swedish actor and musician. 10.Linnéa Gerholt (born 1988): A Swedish competitive swimmer and Olympic bronze medalist.