Surname Gerritz - Meaning and Origin
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Gerritz: What does the surname Gerritz mean?
The last name Gerritz is of Germanic origin and is thought to have derived from the personal name Gerhard. The name Gerhard is composed of two elements; ger meaning “spear” and hard meaning “brave, hardy, or strong.” This suggests that the original bearer of the name Gerritz was a courageous, possibly heroic, individual.
The name also appears in the Germanic form of Gerritzen or Gerritsz which is a patronymic formed on the personal name Gerrit. This patronymic form of the name likely originated during the medieval period when a persons last name was usually derived from the given name of their father.
It is possible that the name may also derive from a Germanicplace name. This place name could have described either a settlement or a geographical area such as a hill or a valley. It is likely that the original bearer of the name Gerritz would have come from this area or perhaps had family ties to it.
The surname Gerritz is still prevalent in Germany today. It continues to be popular as a first name and is popular all over the world. It is possible that those who bear the name Gerritz may still have family ties to Germany and may be descended from the original bearer of the name.
Order DNA origin analysisGerritz: Where does the name Gerritz come from?
The last name Gerritz is most commonly found in the Netherlands, particularly in the southern regions of the country. It is also found in Germany, Belgium, and Luxembourg, although with much lower frequency. Outside of Europe, Gerritz is relatively rare, especially in the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2019 there were approximately 290 people with the last name Gerritz in the US.
In the Netherlands, the name is quite ancient and has likely existed in some form since the Middle Ages. Records show that families with this name lived in the provinces of Groningen, Overijssel, and Gelderland in the 17th century. Furthermore, between 1795 and 1811, it was not an uncommon name in the Dutch province of North Holland.
It is not clear how far back the name Gerritz goes, but research suggests that it is derived from either of two distinct sources. One is the Germanic personal name Gerhard, while the other is derived from the Dutch geer meaning spear, and the Old Dutch word ritze meaning edge or point. Therefore, the name Gerritz could be roughly translated as 'edge of the spear'.
Variations of the surname Gerritz
Gerritz is a patronymic or matronymic surname meaning "son of/daughter of Gerrit," Gerrit being a Low German diminutive of Gerhard. Common variants and alternate spellings of the surname include Gerrits, Gerritsen, Gerritzzen, Gerritzsen, Gerets, Geretzzen, Geretsen and Gerritts.
The Gerrits surname is especially common in the Netherlands, while Gerritz is most often found in Germany. In the United States, the spelling Gerritts is most common.
The spelling of surnames is fluid, dependent upon how they are spelled by the registrars of genealogical records. Spellings may also change from generation to generation, as well as language, literacy level and other factors.
The spelling of Gerritz typically results from a shortening or softening of the "Gerrits" spelling.
The surname is found in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Belgium and the United States.
Due to the many variants and alternate spellings of this surname, it is not uncommon for the same family to have different spellings of the surname, depending on which branch of the family is being researched.
Finally, there are many other surnames with the same origin as Gerritz, such as Gerritsma, Gerritse, Gerritsen, Gerritsz, Gerritszoon, Gerritzen, Gerritzoon, Gerritzsch, and Gerritte.
Famous people with the name Gerritz
- Stefan Gerritz-Robbé: Mecanoo Architecten contract manager and consultant for wastewater treatment plants, bridges and tunnels.
- Willem Gerritz: Dutch sculptor, painter and ceramic.
- Francis Gerritz: Dutch conspiring dentist and author.
- Jan Willem Gerritz: Dutch professional football player.
- Annebeth Gerritz: Member of Dutch House of Representatives and Labour Party spokeswoman on culture, media, tourism and sport.
- Willem Gerritz van Groenendaal: Dutch politician who served as mayor of Haarlem from 1791 to 1795.
- Jan Gerritz Medema: Dutch cartoonist, illustrator and painter.
- Johan Gerritz: Dutch landscape architect and urban planner.
- Riet Gerritz: Dutch sport shooter who won a bronze medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in the 300 m Standard Rifle event.
- Manus Gerritz: Dutch Reformed pastor from North-Brabant.