Surname Gerrits - Meaning and Origin
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Gerrits: What does the surname Gerrits mean?
The surname Gerrits is a patronymic name, which means it is derived from the given name of the father. The original bearer of this surname was someone who was the son of a man named Gerrit.
The name Gerrit is derived from the Germanic name Gerhard, which was composed of two elements. The first element, “ger”, comes from the Germanic word meaning “spear”. The second element, “hardu”, means “hardy” or “strong”. Combined, these two elements give the name a meaning of “strong spear”.
The name Gerrits is most commonly found in the Netherlands, where it has been since the 1400s. In the modern day, the name is still popular in this part of the world as well as the United States and Canada.
The name Gerrits is traditionally associated with the concepts of strength and protection. It can also suggest that the original bearer of the name had an important role in his or her community, as the idea of a spear was often connected to solemn and important roles.
Overall, the surname Gerrits can be seen as a strong and noble name that originated from Germanic roots. It has been around for many centuries and has likely been passed down through generations in many different families.
Order DNA origin analysisGerrits: Where does the name Gerrits come from?
The last name Gerrits is a common Dutch surname which is also found throughout the Netherlands today. It is believed to have originated back to the Middle Ages and is a patronymic name derived from the name “Gerhard” or “Gerrit”, meaning 'brave spear'. The name began to spread in the late 16th century when Dutch settlers started to travel overseas. Today, the name Gerrits is found in a wide range of countries, including the Netherlands, Belgium, the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and Norway.
In the Netherlands, the most common first names combined with the last name Gerrits include Kees, Jan, and Henk. Together, these first names make up almost 75% of all people with the surname Gerrits. Other variations of the name such as de Gerrits, Gerritsen, and Gerritse can also be found in the Netherlands.
Outside the Netherlands, the surname is well-distributed throughout the world. In the United States, the last name Gerrits is mostly found in Pennsylvania, where it often appears as Gerritts or Geraldus. In Canada, the name is even more common, particularly in Ontario, Manitoba, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. In Australia, Gerrits is found in sizable populations in New South Wales and Victoria. International data has also shown that the name is highly represented in South Africa, and can also be found in small numbers in other countries in Europe, North America, and Australasia.
Variations of the surname Gerrits
The surname Gerrits is a Dutch patronymic surname which means ‘son of Gerrit’. It is also commonly spelled as Gerritsen, with the ‘sen’ at the end signifying the patronymic origin. There are several variants of the surname, all of which are derived from the given name Gerrit.
One variant is the Germanic spelling Gerres, which some families have adopted throughout the centuries as a way to differentiate their families from the Dutch Gerrits. Another Germanic spelling is Grieß, which is more commonly found in the Netherlands.
In addition to the Germanic variants, there are several English spellings of the surname Gerrits, such as Gerritts, Gerrets, and Garrets. There are also variants which have been adopted outside of the Netherlands, such as Garetz and Jerreiss in the United States.
Variants of the surname Gerrits are widespread throughout the Low Countries and have even spread across the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in a range of spellings and surnames. Despite the spelling variations, they all derive from the same original source, the given name Gerrit.
Famous people with the name Gerrits
- Timon Gerrits, Dutch ice hockey player
- Nico Gerrits, Dutch soccer coach
- Yvette Gerrits van den Hoogen, Dutch poet
- Ties Gerrits, Dutch footballer
- Eric Gerrits, Dutch musician
- Carina Gerrits, Dutch snowboarder
- Piet Gerrits, Dutch painter
- Leo Gerrits, Dutch media entrepreneur
- Kees Gerrits, Dutch architect
- Maurice Gerrits, Dutch producer and songwriter