Surname Giesler - Meaning and Origin
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Giesler: What does the surname Giesler mean?
Giesler is a surname commonly thought to be of German or Jewish origin.
The German translation of Giesler is literally “Geyser,” which could refer to an area or person near a geyser, or a strong outpouring of water. The Jewish origin could come fromions words “gaʾyas,” which means “oat.” Alternatively, it could be derived from the Hebrew word gilserim, which means “treasure.”
The original Giesler family can be found in Alsace-Lorraine, then part of the German Empire, where it is thought that they stemmed from. During the 19th century, many German-speaking settlers migrated to the United States and had their surnames anglicized to Giesler.
Pronunciation of the name differs by country. It is historically pronounced with a hard “G” like “GEYE-zler” or “GEE-zler” in German-speaking countries, and with a soft “G” like “GIS-ler” or “JISS-ler” in English-speaking countries. No matter which pronunciation is used, people with this surname share the same heritage and family history.
Today, Giesler is a fairly common surname in both Europe and the United States. It is a part of German, Jewish, and American lineage and heritage, all with the same shared family name.
Order DNA origin analysisGiesler: Where does the name Giesler come from?
The last name Giesler is of German origin and is most commonly found in countries where German is spoken, especially in Germany and Austria. It is somewhat less common in other German-speaking countries such as Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
In the United States, the last name Giesler is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, New York, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Iowa, states with larger populations of German immigrants. Records from the turn of the 20th century indicate that many Gieslers, some of whom had emigrated from Germany, settled within these states.
The last name Giesler is also somewhat common in other countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, due to the immigration of Germans to those countries in the 19th and 20th centuries. For example, the 1911 census of Canada recorded over two hundred people living in Canada with the last name Giesler.
While the surname is not as common as some others, it is still found around the world today, especially in countries with large German-speaking populations, but also in other regions due to the immigration of German people in the past.
Variations of the surname Giesler
The surname Giesler is a German toponymic surname, deriving from an ancestor's place of residence or origin. Variants of this surname include Gisler, Gessler, Geßler, Gießler, Giesler, Gieselaar, and Giezelaar.
Giesler is a German name derived from the Middle High German term ‘giseler’ which means ‘hostage giver’. The Latin form of this name is 'giselsen', which is derived from ‘gissel’, meaning ‘to ransom’. The surname Giesler is associated with the ancient and medieval German Giseler family.
Gisler is a Swiss variation of the surname, originating from the canton of Bern, Switzerland. This spelling is found in a small region of Germany, primarily in the Black Forest area. Gessler is an alternate spelling of Gisler and is most likely derived from the town of Gessler in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Geßler is a variation of the surname found primarily in Southern Germany. It is derived from the Middle High German term ‘gezlari’ which is a diminutive of ‘giseler’. Gießler is also a Germanic variation of Giesler, derived from the Middle High German word ‘giseler’ and is found mostly in the northern region of Germany.
Gieselaar and Giezelaar are Dutch variations of the surname. The Dutch ‘-aar’ suffix was added to the name to indicate the origin of the family, which is most likely the German Giseler family.
In conclusion, Giesler is a German toponymic surname derived from the Middle High German term ‘giseler’ which means ‘hostage giver’. Variants of this surname include Gisler, Gessler, Geßler, Gießler, Gieselaar, and Giezelaar. Ultimately, all of these variations share a common origin in the ancient and medieval Giseler family.
Famous people with the name Giesler
- Hugh Giesler: Veteran character actor best known for his roles as Organ Grinder in the ABC series 'Fantasy Island', Charles Copeland in the CBS adventure-drama series 'The Yellow Rose' (1983-1984) and Dale Clemens in the 1990s sitcom 'Suddenly Susan'.
- Wayne Giesler: Former NFL player. Played as the Pro Bowl defensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs in the early 80s.
- Erich Giesler: German Roman Catholic bishop and Servant of God, a cause for Giesler's beatification has been opened.
- Arnold Giesler: American lawyer and businessman, led the General Electric legal department for 35 years and served as GE Executive Vice President for six years.
- Michael Giesler: Former West German javelin thrower who competed in two consecutive Summer Olympics, in 1960 and 1964.
- Chloe Giesler: American field hockey player who competed in the Women's tournament at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
- Raymond Giesler: Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.
- Joel Giesler: Former American football offensive tackle who played one season in the National Football League.
- Lucian Giesler: An American priest of the Roman Catholic Church and a Capuchin Franciscan who served as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Omaha from 1928 until his death in 1936.
- Austin Giesler: American professional wrestler best known for his recent work in the Georgia-based wrestling promotion New Wave Pro Wrestling.