Surname Giesse - Meaning and Origin
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Giesse: What does the surname Giesse mean?
The last name Giesse is of German origin and has been in existence since at least the 16th century. The meaning of the name is derived from the old German words for “dispensation” and “going”, and the modern German meaning is “to give out”.
The Giesse surname is believed to have been first used by a family of doctors and apothecaries who dispensed medications and remedies to their patients. Over time, the Giesse surname came to represent being an individual who worked to provide people with a dispensation or a form of assistance in some way. It is also believed that the Giesse surname was used to denote someone who was travelling or had travelled from one place to another.
The Giesse surname is still in use today with many descendants of the original Giesse family who can be found around the world. Although the name may have had its roots in being used to denote a profession or certain work, that meaning has become less prominent over time. Today, the Giesse surname is more associated with someone with a compassionate and caring approach. An individual who goes out of their way to help others and is always giving out and dispensing aid of some sort.
Order DNA origin analysisGiesse: Where does the name Giesse come from?
The last name Giesse is most notably associated with Germany, especially the region of Hesse. It is likely to be most common within this area today. It is thought to have originated as a place name meaning "clearing in woods".
The modern spelling of Giesse is the most common variant of this name, though in the past it could have been spelled in a number of different ways such as Giese or Geisse. Records indicate that it was first recorded in the 13th century in Saxony, most likely near the town of Gießen.
Currently, Giesse is still mainly concentrated in Hesse, where it is the 522nd most common last name in the country. It is also found throughout the rest of Germany, as well as in other parts of Europe (especially the Netherlands and Switzerland) and even in the United States. However, the vast majority of those with the last name Giesse still live in Germany today.
Variations of the surname Giesse
Giesse is an old Germanic surname found throughout Northern Europe. It was originally derived from a personal name given to a benefactor. In continental Europe, the most common variations of the name include Giese, Giesen and Gieser. In Britain, the cognate of the Gese/Gysen/Gyser forms- including Gee, Geese, Geece, Giesen and Gypens - are the more common alternatives.
In Germany, Giesse can also take on a geographic form, which is used for people who lived in areas around Jena and Gietzen. In this case, the spelling changes to Gieße and Gießen. Meanwhile, outside Germany it can also be spelled as Gheese or Gheze.
Other popular and less common variants of Giesse include Giss, Gissens, Gisses, Giesmann, Gismann, Gymens, Gisens, Gessen, Gessenich, Giesecke, and Giske. Among those in the Netherlands, Giske is the most popular spelling of the surname.
In Sweden, the spelling Giese is also widely used, and is often found in the form of Geyse. In Finland, the surname is spelled as Geisse.
In the United States, there has been a shift to the modernized spelling Giese, and the variations of Geese and Geece remain popular among those whose ancestors originated in Britain.
Famous people with the name Giesse
- Frieda Giesse: The first female automobile designer in the United States.
- Olga Giesse: A German actress from the silent era.
- Erich Giesse: A German actor.
- Frieder Giesse: A German dentist.
- Jude Giesse: An American competitive swimmer.
- Lawrence Giesse: An Australian Olympic medalist in athletics.
- Dominic Giesse: An American-born Panamanian professional baseball shortstop.
- Franziska Giesse: A German modern pentathlete.
- Carol Giesse: An American figure skater.
- Res Giesse: A Swiss bobsledder.
- Frank Giesse: An American soccer player in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Arsène Giesse: A French cyclist.
- Abdel Giesse: A French footballer.
- Joe Giesse: An American professional basketball player.
- Julien Giesse: A French decathlete.
- Kassim Giesse: A French footballer.
- Édouard Giesse: A French footballer.
- Hib-Sabeck Giesse: A French writer and playwright.
- Rod Giesse: An American photographer.
- Tara Giesse: An Irish football coach.