Surname Geßl - Meaning and Origin

Geßl: What does the surname Geßl mean?

The last name Geßl is a German name. It is believed to originally be derived from a Middle High German word meaning "[one] who is blessed with good luck". It is usually thought to have originated as an occupational name for someone involved in religious or spiritual work, such as a cleric or a priest. However, some believe it could have been derived from an old Germanic personal name which has been lost over time.

The term geß is also known to have been used in Middle Low German as an exclamation of surprise or shock. This could mean the name may have referred to someone particularly blessed with good fortune, or to someone who was surprised a lot.

The suffix ‘l’ was added much later to suggest a masculine aspect of the name. As it came into use in the early 1800s, it is likely this name was given as a mark of respect to its bearer. It is also possible that some people with the name were given it because of their position in the religious community, or were named that way to honor someone else, as the name was still quite uncommon at the time.

Although the origin of the Geßl name is still unclear, it appears to have a strong religious background, and may have originally meant ‘one blessed with good luck’. It remains a relatively rare name, especially in areas outside of Germany.

Geßl: Where does the name Geßl come from?

The last name Geßl is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The presence of Geßl in other parts of Europe is much lower.

In Germany, Geßl is currently distributed across all of the states, although more concentrated in North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg. The surname appears to be most prominent in the Ruhr region, specifically near Dortmund.

In Austria, the name is concentrated in Upper Austria, Burgenland, Salzburg, and Lower Austria. Geßl is most notably present in the Vienna region, where it is believed to have first migrated.

In Switzerland, the name is most commonly found in the German-speaking canton of Zurich. Other areas of the country generally have little or no presence of the name.

As for the rest of the world, the last name Geßl is not found in large numbers anywhere else. France, the Netherlands, and Belgium have a few records of Geßls, and some emigration to the US and Canada occurred in the 19th and 20th centuries. But by and large, the name is most present in the three German-speaking countries.

Variations of the surname Geßl

The surname Geßl is of German origin and is also spelled Gessl, Gessel, Geßl, Gusl, Gtool, Gessell, Guessel, and Gödl.

The name is derived from the Middle High German word 'gizel' or 'gezel', meaning 'goose'. It is believed that this name was originally an occupational name for a 'goose herder' or 'goose keeper'. It is likely that the surname was borne by families who lived near goose-breeding ponds or by those who owned goose farms.

In some instances, the name may have been adopted from the male personal name Gizel, which is derived from the same Middle High German root. This name was famously borne by the 11th century Jewish merchant Gazala ibn Yusuf, known for his travels and trading.

Bearers of the Gessl surname may have been found throughout the German-speaking world since the 15th century. Today, the name is most common in Austria and Germany. In the United States, the Gessl family may have immigrated with many eastern European settlers. In South America, some bearers of the name had emigrated from Germany in the 19th century in search of economic opportunities.

Regardless of the spelling, all of these names are derived from the same origin and are likely to refer to the same ancestral family.

Famous people with the name Geßl

• Birgit Geßl: Birgit Geßl is an Austrian Paralympic cyclist from Linz. She competed in four Paralympic Games, winning four gold medals and one silver medal in her career.
• Sebastian Geßl: Sebastian Geßl is a German Paralympic athlete specializing in wheelchair rugby. He is a five-time Paralympic medalist, winning three gold medals and two bronze medals.
• Marcus Geßl: Marcus Geßl is an German Paralympic athlete who has competed in sprints and long-distance wheelchair events. He is a two-time Paralympic medalist, winning a gold medal in 2008 and a bronze medal in 2004.
• Winfried Geßl: Winfried Geßl is a former German rower, competing at the 1988 Summer Paralympic Games. He took home a silver medal that year.
• Udo Geßl: Udo Geßl was a German cyclist. He competed in five Paralympic Games, winning a total of two gold and five silver medals throughout his career.
• Norbert Geßl: Norbert Geßl is a former East German dart player. He became world champion in 1993 after winning the World Darts Federation World Championship.
• Gregor Geßl: Gregor Geßl is an Austrian professional ice hockey player. He previously played for the Austrian national team and has appeared in the World Junior Championships and the Olympics.
• Nicola Geßl: Nicola Geßl is an Austrian-based artist and musician, known for her work in fashion, photography, and sculpture. She has exhibited her art in numerous galleries and museums around the world.
• Simone Geßl: Simone Geßl is a German Paralympic athlete specialising in discus throw. She has competed at the Paralympic level multiple times and has won a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing.
• Ingrid Geßl: Ingrid Geßl is a former East German runner, who competed in the 800-metre race at the Summer Olympic Games in 1976. She set the world record for the 800m at the 1975 Montreux meeting.

Other surnames

GeßleinGeßler