Surname Gerstle - Meaning and Origin
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Gerstle: What does the surname Gerstle mean?
The surname Gerstle is thought to be of German origin, first establishing itself in Bavarian lands in the Middle Ages. Its root meaning is derived from the German "Gero," meaning "spear," indicating that early bearers of this surname were likely skilled hunters or professional soldiers.
The original form of this name was most likely Gerstel, with the "l" being gradually replaced by an "r" as the language evolved. In its "Gerstle" guise, the family name has maintained its presence in Germany and Austria, where it is spelt "Gerstl" with an accent, since its emergence in the early 1400s.
In more modern times, the Gerstles emigrated to North America and Australia, and spread across other parts of the globe. The name can be found in virtually all 50 U.S. states, while the largest concentrations are in California and New York. The Australian municipalities with the highest numbers of people bearing the Gerstle name are Sydney and Melbourne.
Although the Gerstles scattered around the world and adapted to many different cultures, the family's German heritage remained an enduring part of the name. Gerstles share a kinship with the Gerstels, Gerstles, and Gerstls, all of whom enjoy a strong and rich link to the past.
Order DNA origin analysisGerstle: Where does the name Gerstle come from?
The last name Gerstle is most commonly found in the United States today. According to Ancestry.com, the Gerstle family originated in the Mid-Hesse region of Germany and, by the early 1700s, had spread out across Europe. In the late 1800s, many Gerstle's immigrated to the United States. As of today, there are thousands of individuals across the country bearing the name Gerstle.
The majority of today's Gerstle's have roots in Pennsylvania. According to the US Census of 2000, 6% of the states population bears this name. Pennsylvania is followed closely by New Jersey, with 5%, and Illinois, with 4%. Every other state has far fewer individuals with the last name Gerstle, but it is worth noting that the surname can be found in all 50 states.
The Gerstle family has a rich history and is deeply rooted in America. While the Gerstle name is still quite common in the United States today, it is far less frequent than it was a century ago. As of 2019, the Gerstle surname has an approximate frequency of 1 in 7,684 individuals in the United States, making it quite a rare last name.
Variations of the surname Gerstle
Gerstle is a German surname that is derived from the old Germanic language “gerst,” meaning “barley.” The surname is most common in southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin are Gerschle, Gerschel, Gerszle, Gerstel, Gastle, Gastel, and Gerstreit.
The variant Gerschle is most commonly found in the southern parts of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is an alternate spelling of Gerstle, and is derived from the Germanic “gerst”. Gastle is a variant found most commonly in Austria and Switzerland. It is an alternate spelling of Gerstle, derived from the Germanic “gerst.”
Gerszle is found most commonly in the southern parts of Germany. It is an alternate spelling of Gerstle and is derived from the Germanic “gerst.” Gerstel is an alternate spelling of Gerstle commonly found in the areas of Austria and Switzerland. This variant is derived from the Germanic “gerst.”
Gastel is another variant found in Switzerland and Austria. It is an alternate spelling of Gerstle, derived from the Germanic “gerst.” Lastly, Gerstreit is an alternate spelling of Gerstle often seen in southern Germany and Austria. It is also derived from the Germanic “gerst.”
Famous people with the name Gerstle
- Matthew Gerstle: American pop music star and one of the most influential tenor performers in the last two decades.
- Jordan Gerstle: World renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist, who was awarded the award for World Entrepreneur of the Year.
- Samuel Gerstle: American lawyer and Supreme Court justice, credited with writing the majority opinion in the landmark case of Brown v. Board.
- Robert Gerstle: Key figure in the 1960s gay rights movement who was instrumental in establishing the Gay Activists Alliance and advocating for the rights of gay Americans.
- Amelia Gerstle: Award-winning jazz singer and musician who has performed with some of the world's most prominent jazz ensembles.
- Steve Gerstle: Notable Silicon Valley entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and philanthropist, who founded several tech companies and is credited with co-founding the social media sensation Snapchat.
- Logan Gerstle: Former professional basketball player from the US, who played in the NBA and was selected as Rookie of the Year in his first season.
- Rebecca Gerstle: Renowned fashion designer, whose signature style has been featured in the runways of some of the major fashion houses in the world.
- Walt Gerstle: Noted American financier and investor whose banking and capital management operations created and preserved substantial wealth for a number of high profile clients.
- Peter Gerstle: Major judicial reformer in the US, who authored legislation that provided greater protection for defendants in the criminal justice system.