Surname Gesser - Meaning and Origin

Gesser: What does the surname Gesser mean?

The last name Gesser is a German-Jewish surname, which means “guest”. The origin of this surname is derived from the ancient German word, “Gast”, meaning guest. From this, “Gesser” was derived.

Gesser is not a common last name and so, few people have it; it is mainly found around Germany, Austria and New York City in the US. It is also believed to have been used as a nickname for people who frequently hosted guests, or who travelled frequently.

In Jewish culture, when the Gesser family immigrated to America in the early 1900’s from Europe, they took along their surname of “Gesser” representing the family’s history and unique identity. The Gesser family was part of a larger group of Jewish immigrants collectively known as “the Gessers of the Lower East Side”.

The Gesser family lived in a small area in the Lower East Side of New York City, an area that was predominantly Jewish. Most of the Gesser family still resides in New York City and continues to pass down the tradition of welcoming guests, even today.

The surname Gesser is a reminder of the family’s history and symbolizes the welcoming nature of hospitality and friendship passed down by the Gesser family for generations.

Gesser: Where does the name Gesser come from?

The last name Gesser is most commonly found in Germany and the United States today.

Gesser is an old German name that first appeared in medieval records during the 13th century. The name is derived from the German word "Geselle" meaning "servant, apprentice, journeyman". In some cases it is a nickname for someone without a surname or for a person who had just moved to a new area.

In Germany, the name is most commonly found in the states of Hessen, North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria. It is also found in the states of Baden-Wurttemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Schleswig-Holstein, and Lower Saxony.

In the United States, Gesser is found throughout the country but is most common in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois.

Gesser is also found in Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, France, and the Netherlands. The name is also common in Canada as it has been since the 17th century when early Gesser immigrants arrived on the East Coast.

The Gesser name is still found in many of these places today, although it may have been slightly altered over the years from its original spelling.

Variations of the surname Gesser

The surname Gesser has eight variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin. These variants are Gasser, Geser, Gässer, Geßer, Gassner, Gosser, Gösser, and Goesser.

Gasser is a variation of Gesser that is especially common in Switzerland, the German-speaking region of France, and Germany.

Geser is found mostly in the German-speaking area of Switzerland.

Gässer is a variation of Gesser found mainly in Germany. It is derived from a Middle High German word meaning ‘goose’.

Geßer is another variation of Gesser that is mostly found in Germany and Austria.

Gassner is a variation of Gesser found mainly in Austria and Germany. It is derived from a Middle High German word meaning ‘goose herder’.

Gosser is another spelling of Gesser found in Germany and Austria. It is derived from a Middle High German word meaning ‘territory of a goose herd’.

Gösser is a variation of Gesser that can be found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is derived from a Middle High German word meaning ‘goose’.

Goesser is the most common variation of Gesser found in Austria. It is derived from the Middle High German word meaning ‘goose’.

Famous people with the name Gesser

• Harvey Gesser: Former Major League Baseball Pitcher
• Jonathan Gesser: Military Officer and Medical Doctor
• Leon Gesser: Sculptor
• Paul Gesser: Actor and Film Producer
• Richard Gesser: Former Member of the National Hockey League
• Robert Gesser: Radio Host and Television Broadcaster
• Steven Gesser: Vice President of The Odyssey Group
• Abraham Gesser Leviton: Rabbi and Talmudic Scholar
• Alejandro Gesser: Former Professional Tennis Player
• Magda Gesser-Jacobson: Pediatrician and Professor at the NYU School of Medicine

Other surnames

Gessert