Surname Gierholz - Meaning and Origin

Gierholz: What does the surname Gierholz mean?

The last name Gierholz is a German surname and is derived from the words “gier” meaning “greed” and “holz” meaning “wood” or “forest”. The surname has been found with various spellings such as Gerholz and Gierholtz, with those forms being more common in Germany.

The Gierholz surname generally originated from the northern German region. It is also believed that the name could have been derived from a geographical place name such as Gierhof, a place to the south east of Hamburg. The nature of the surname suggests that those originally bearing the name Gierholz likely had some sort of connection to either the forest or timber industry.

The name may have been used to differentiate one family of lumberjacks from another or to distinguish those working as forest wardens who watch over the woods. Indeed the place name Gierhof is close to a large forest known as the Ohrenheide-Holz, which would have offered those living in the area plenty of opportunity for harvesting timber.

Overall, the last name Gierholz is likely connected to the lumber industry and those of the northern German region in some way. It is likely that those bearing the name had either worked in the timber industry or had a close connection to the forestry industry. Alternatively, the name could have been derived from a geographical place name such as Gierhof.

Gierholz: Where does the name Gierholz come from?

The last name Gierholz is most often associated with Germany. Ancestry records show that the name dates back to at least the 1600s in Germany, and its geographical distribution is concentrated in the western part of the country. It can still be found in some rural areas of Germany today but is mostly absent from larger cities.

Gierholz is also a surname found in parts of Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg and France, where it is most often seen in very small numbers.

Gierholz is not particularly common in other European countries and is almost unheard of in the United States. While there are some limited records of Gierholz immigrants in the 1800s, the name has not achieved a high level of popularity in America, and it is not found in significant numbers in any American state today.

However, people of German ancestry with Gierholz as their family name may find it more often in records of their ancestry than in the population in general. This is due to its being a relatively uncommon name that has endured in the family across generations.

Variations of the surname Gierholz

The surname Gierholz has a few variants, spellings, and potential surnames of the same origin.

Gierholz, Gierholdt, Gierold, Gierhold, and Gierholtz are all variants of the same surname. These spellings are believed to have originated in Bavaria or Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and can be found in records dating back to the 1600s.

Gierholz may also be related to the surnames Geherholz, Garholz, Gerhold, Garhold, and Garholdt. All of these surnames can be found in records from Germany dating back to the same time period.

The spelling Girholz could also be related to this surname, as could Gairols or Garris, both of which are derived from Gaelic roots. This would indicate a link between Gierholz and German-Gaelic names.

Finally, Girold, Gierolt, Gierolz, and Garracht may also be related to Gierholz. Girold is found in records from the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany, while the other spellings are found in records from Germany, Bavaria, and Austria.

In summary, the surname Gierholz has various spellings, variants, and potential related surnames including Gierholdt, Gierold, Gierhold, Gierholtz, Geherholz, Garholz, Gerhold, Garhold, Garholdt, Girholz, Gairols, Garris, Girold, Gierolt, Gierolz, and Garracht. These spellings can be found in records from Germany, Bavaria, Austria, and the Rhineland-Palatinate region dating back to the 1600s.

Famous people with the name Gierholz

• Bernhardt Gierholz: German classical philologist, expert on the history of Greek language and literature.
• Burkhart Gierholz: German activist during the World War II, member of the Jungdeutscher Orden.
• Erdmuthe Gierholz: German writer and poet specialized in lyric poetry.
• Johann Gierholz: German visual artist and printmaker.
• Kai Gierholz: German composer and conductor of various musicals and acoustic works.
• Theodor Gierholz: German pastor, writer andeducator from the 19th and 20th centuries.
• John Gierholz: American writer, translator and editor of several impressive works of literature.
• Karl Gierholz: German sculptor and painter, active in France and Germany in the 18th and 19thcenturies.
• Melinda Gierholz: American executive director of Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) which helpsembattled Roman Catholics.
• Lesbian Gierholz: American artist known for her series of mixed-media pieces showcased inseveral exhibitions.

Other surnames

Gierhold