Surname Gettis - Meaning and Origin

Gettis: What does the surname Gettis mean?

The last name Gettis is a patronymic name (also referred to as a patronym) of uncertain origin and meaning. It is derived from the given name Getti which is thought to have originated in Middle English and Old Norse.

The Old Norse language is an ancient North Germanic language which was spoken in Scandinavia from around 800 - 1350 CE and remained in use in some areas into the 18th Century. The given name Getti was originally used as a nickname, meaning “son of Gilbert”, “son of Geert”, or “son of Getti”.

The name Gettis has continued to be popular in the United Kingdom, and other parts of Europe, for centuries and can be found in various records. Records indicate that it is a fairly common last name in the United Kingdom and is most commonly found in the counties of Devon, Cornwall, and Essex.

The name is associated with an independent, but dependable nature. It signifies a person who is loyal and reliable, yet also creative and independent. This trait made them ideal seamen who trusted their own instincts and navigated their way through life with determination and resilience.

The last name Gettis is thought to have originated around the 12th century and its original meaning is still not known. In any case, the name has become a part of family history, handed down from generation to generation, and today it continues to represent a strong-willed and independent spirit.

Gettis: Where does the name Gettis come from?

The surname Gettis is most commonly found in the United States today. Census records for the year 2000 indicate that more than 5,300 persons bore the name Gettis throughout the nation, with the majority in the Southeast. Specifically, it was found most frequently in Georgia, accounting for 1,020 persons, followed by North Carolina (890), California (619), Texas (319), Virginia (290), South Carolina (269), Mississippi (229), Louisiana (133), and Alabama (78).

In the United States, the surname Gettis originated from an emancipated slave known as Dennis Gettis, who was found living in south central Georgia in the late 19th century. The surname is believed to have derived from the name "Geddie," which was a shortened alliteration of the name "Gwendolyn."

Tennessee was home to the fourth-highest concentration of Gettis, with 185 recorded individuals, and Florida placed 8th, with 78 individuals recorded. Outside of the United States, the surname had its highest concentrations in countries with direct links to African identity—Jamaica, Nigeria, and Ghana.

Variations of the surname Gettis

The surname Gettis is a surname of Germanic origin, likely derived from a nickname for a person with extraordinary talent. It is variously spelled as Gettis, Gettes, Gettiss or Gettis.

Variants of Gettis are also seen in several other languages, including Getz, Getz, Gette, Gett, Gettes, Gette, Gettin, Gez, Gitz, Giz, Gide, Gedde, Geit, Geitt, Geith, Gedess, Gidde and Gede. This demonstrates the diversity of the surname Gettis through different language families, as well as its wide geographical spread throughout Europe.

The surname Gettis can also be found amongst the Jewish families originating from Eastern Europe, as the Jews in East-central Europe were known as Gitar or Geitar, which gradually evolved to Gettis or Getes. It is also very popular amongst British families and has many spelling variations, including Geddis, Gedys, Gedis and Gethis.

In the United States, Gettis is mostly associated with African American families. It is believed to be a variant of the surname "GETER." There is a family Bible of the Geter/ Gettis family dating back to the 1850s in Petersburg, Virginia.

Overall, the variants, spellings and surnames of Gettis reflect its multilingual and multi-ethnic origin. It is a very diverse surname that has been adopted by families of various backgrounds across the world.

Famous people with the name Gettis

• Dr. Leila Denmark: A pediatrician and the oldest practicing physician in the United States, Dr. Leila Denmark was elected to be the President of the American Medical Association in 1959 at the age of 97.
• Jermaine Gettis: An NFL wide receiver, Jermaine Gettis was drafted in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins and currently plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
• Anton Gettis: An opera singer, Anton Gettis is a recipient of the National Association of Negro Musicians Artist Award and performed at The Kennedy Center in both 2008 and 2011.
• Marcus Gettis: Marcus Gettis, a hip-hop producer, has worked with artists such as Drake, Lil Wayne, and Big Sean.
• Paul Gettis: Paul Gettis, known simply as Paul G, is a rapper and member of the East Coast hip-hop group Hieroglyphics.
• Kelsey Gettis: Kelsey Gettis is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has performed on stages throughout the United States.
• G. W. Gettis: G. W. Gettis was the owner of the Gettis & Sons Textile Mill in Fayetteville.
• Jason Gettis: Jason Gettis is an actor who has had recurring roles on shows such as Black-ish and Criminal Minds.
• Meg Gettis: Meg Gettis is an artist, art director, and set designer whose work has been featured in the films After School Special and Pizza and Bullets.
• Celeste Gettis: Celeste Gettis is an illustrator and comic artist whose work has been published in various publications around the world.

Other surnames

Gettings