Surname Gieraths - Meaning and Origin

Gieraths: What does the surname Gieraths mean?

The last name Gieraths is of German origin. It is believed to have derived from the ancient German word “geier” which means vulture. It is believed that the name was first used as a nickname for someone who was associated with vultures, such as living near a colony of vultures or working with them.

In modern day, Gieraths is still mainly found in Germany, although it can be found in many countries throughout Europe, as well as some in North America. In Germany, it is mainly found in the former Prussian provinces of Schleswig-Holstein and Hanover, as well as some of Germany’s eastern regions.

The title “Gierath” or “Gierat” was also the name of an old German noble family. The family was said to have originated in the area near the Weser River, and was closely associated with the Lordship of Werden.

Gieraths is a unique and interesting surname, and its origins can provide an interesting piece of family history. It is likely that bear past generations of Gieraths were associated with vultures in some way, adding an interesting layer of history to those who bear the surname.

Gieraths: Where does the name Gieraths come from?

Today, the last name Gieraths is most commonly found in Germany, where it has its roots. Records indicate that the Gieraths surname has been registered in the German census since at least the 1600s. The name is most highly concentrated in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, where it ranks around 600th in popularity.

Other countries in Europe where the name is found include the Netherlands, Austria, and Sweden. The Netherlands is the second most popular European home for the Gieraths surname with some records dating back to the early 1800s.

There are also Gieraths families in the United States, England, and Canada. Records suggest that by the early 1900s, Gieraths’s had begun to emigrate from Germany and settle down in these countries.

Additionally, Gieraths is a fairly rare name spread across countries in South America, Asia, and Africa. It appears to be a common family name in Zimbabwe, where there are large concentrations of immigrants from Europe.

Regardless of where Gieraths families reside, they share a common bond of being descendants of the original German surname. The variety of countries where Gieraths is found today only further solidifies its global reach.

Variations of the surname Gieraths

Gieraths is a German-derived surname, most likely from the Middle High German given name Geert. It is most commonly found in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Variants of the name include Gerat, Geerts, Gerlach, Gerets, Gierth, Geerth, Geraths, Gerber, Gerbrandt, and Gebhardt. Spellings include Geirats, Gerars, Girarts, Gerarrets, Girat, Gearth, Gerarts, Gerrots, Gerrahts and Girets.

Surnames of the same origin include Gittings, Gittinger, Getherts, Gettings, Gatinger, Gethinger, Gietz, Gittins, Givens, Githings, Gittler, Giebel, Gettig, Geitel, Getman, and Göthe.

Over time, some of these surnames have changed and evolved from their original forms. For example, Gieraths sometimes changed to Gerlach or Gerbrands, Gegerts to Gebhardt, Gerarts to Gerber, and Gierth to Gietzel.

Most of the variants are Indo-European in origin, coming from the ancient Germanic personal name Geert, which combined the elements "geir", meaning spear, and "hard", meaning hard or strong. The most common variants of this name are Gerhard and Gerald.

Famous people with the name Gieraths

• Marty Gieraths: professional baseball player, played for the Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners, and the New York Yankees.
• Curt Gieraths: a professional basketball player who played for the Washington Capitols and the Philadelphia Eagles.
• John Gieraths: the first African American to play in the NFL.
• Robert Gieraths: a lawyer and former chairman of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors.
• Jay Gieraths: a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Montreal Expos.
• Dave Gieraths: an American football linebacker who played for the Minnesota Vikings during the early 1970s.
• Lee Gieraths: an American football quarterback who played for the Minnesota Vikings in the late 1970s.
• Kevin Gieraths: a former professional baseball player who played for the Cincinnati Reds.
• Jim Gieraths: a former professional football player who played for the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers.
• Jack Gieraths: an American basketball player who played for the Chicago Bulls and the Washington Wizards.

Other surnames

GieratGierath