Surname Gessat - Meaning and Origin

Gessat: What does the surname Gessat mean?

Gessat is a French surname that originated in the region of Auvergne. The meaning of the name is unknown, though it could have been derived from a Germanic personal name or be related to the Scandinavian god Gest. In the medieval era, the family of this name settled in Auvergne and established a small feudal community in the region, holding a modest rank as noblemen.

The Gessats were renowned for their military skills, forming part of the forces which defended the Auvergne from foreign threats. The Gessats were also known as the masters of the great forest of Auvergne, profiting from game and wood.

Gessat families have been distributed throughout France and beyond over the centuries, and some have made their homes in other countries. The presence of Gessat descendants can be found in England, Canada, the United States, Australia, and other parts of Europe. As a result of this diaspora, the Gessat name has evolved and branched out, creating a network of family members spread around the globe.

Today, the Gessat surname still holds a sense of pride and strength of character. It remains a vivid symbol of heritage and tradition, rich with eventful stories of the past and a proud history to be kept and remembered.

Gessat: Where does the name Gessat come from?

The last name Gessat is commonly found throughout France. Specifically, according to the French genealogy site Geneanet, the last name Gessat is most commonly found in the departments of Hautes-Alpes, Alpes-Maritimes, Var, and Savoie in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Rhone-Alpes regions in southeastern France.

In 2017, the name Gessat was the 17,897th most common family name in France, and was reportedly found in a total of 319 different localities, with the highest concentration coming from the towns and villages of La Grave, Menton, Digne-Les-Bains, Tournon-Sur-Rhône, Gap, Aix-en-Provence, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Grenoble, Annecy, and Aups.

Geneanet has records of Gessat families as far back as 1790, with some families originating in Germany, typing their name as Gessath. This suggests that some Gessat families are descended from German immigrants.

Despite being more concentrated in France, the last name Gessat can be found elsewhere around the world, particularly Europe. According to Ancestry, the name Gessat is found in countries like Algeria, Hungary, Switzerland, and even Canada and the United States.

Even though some of the Gessat families may be migrated to other countries around the world, the highest concentration of Gessat families are still found in France, specifically in the mountain regions along the southeastern border.

Variations of the surname Gessat

The surname Gessat has several different spellings, variants, and related surnames. The most common spelling of this surname is Gessat, but there are also several other forms, such as Geßat, Geßet, and Geßet. Other variants that can be found include Geßert, Geßatte, Geßert, Geßatte, Geßertt, and Gessel, as well as related surnames such as Gesselmann, Gessen, Geßmann, and Geßenz.

The Gessat surname is of Germanic origin and can be traced back to ancient German settlements. It is associated with the city of Burg Gessat, located in the German state of Rheinland-Pfalz. The city was founded in the 11th century and the first known Gessat family is recorded there during the 13th century. The Gessat surname first began to spread out of the city from 1650 and is present in most areas of Germany today.

There are also instances of the Gessat surname in other countries, such as Austria, France, and the USA. In Austria, for example, the Geßert family is found in the city of Heilbronn in the province of Upper Austria. In France, the Geßatte family is found in the area of Lorraine and in the USA, the Gessen family is recorded in Connecticut and New Jersey.

In conclusion, the surname Gessat and its various variants and spellings are of Germanic origin and associated with the 11th-century city of Burg Gessat. It is recorded in the records of most countries in Europe and the United States.

Famous people with the name Gessat

• Karl Gessat: Frederick Karl Gessat (born 1887, in Maryland, United States) was a lawyer and professional golfer.
• Ernst Gessat: Ernst Gessat (born 1888, in Freiburg, Germany) was a textile manufacturer and a leading activist in the Lutheran church.
• August Gessat: August Gessat (born 1891, in Illinois, United States) was a lawyer and a member of the Illinois House of Representatives.
• Johann Gessat: Johann Gessat (born 1863, in Germany) was a German actor and opera singer.
• Arnold Gessat: Arnold Gessat (born 1875, in Germany) was a German industrialist and art dealer.
• Gottlieb and Michael Gessat: Gottlieb and Michael Gessat (born 1874 and 1877, respectively, in Switzerland) were brothers and artists, famous for their landscape paintings.
• August Gessat Jr.: August Gessat Jr. (born 1894, in Illinois, United States) was a lawyer and politician.
• Johnny Gessat: Johnny Gessat (born 1941, in Texas, United States) was an NFL player.
• Heinrich Gessat: Heinrich Gessat (born 1899, in Germany) was a World War I fighter ace.
• Valentin Gessat: Valentin Gessat (born 1949, in Switzerland) was a Swiss mountaineer.

Other surnames

Gessaman