Surname Giß - Meaning and Origin

Giß: What does the surname Giß mean?

The last name Giß is of German origin, and is derived from the word “Gieß”, which means “to pour out.” The name Giß is an occupational surname as it defines a family whose members had a profession related to the pouring out of liquid. This could include brewers, farmers, and bakers.

There is some debate as to exactly when the Giß surname first appeared in Germany. Some records suggest that the first to bear the name were several brothers, Giso and Forner, who were mentioned in the year 1100. From there, the Giß family spread across much of Europe, first appearing in records in Austria in the 1600s and 1700s.

Today, people who bear the surname Giß typically live in Germany, Austria, Denmark, and Poland. It is thought to be a relatively uncommon surname in comparison to other German surnames.

The Giß surname has undergone a few minor changes throughout Europe, including Giss, Gisser, and Gies. Despite the fact that it is not a particularly common surname, members of the Giß family have made their mark in some important fields, including the fields of physics, engineering, law, and medicine. Some notable people with the Giß last name include author Thomas Giss, businessman Fritz Gies, and physicist John Giss.

Giß: Where does the name Giß come from?

The last name Giß is a German-Austrian surname. It is a relatively old surname, with a recorded occurrence in 1543, in the records of a village in Bavaria, Germany. Today, the name Giß can be found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United States. In Germany, the Giß last name is most common in Bavaria, Baden-Wuerttemberg, and Hesse. In Austria, Giß is most popular in Vienna and Lower Austria. In Switzerland, the Giß name is most heavily concentrated in the Cantons of Basel City, Basel-Landschaft, and Zürich, although it can be found elsewhere in the country. In the United States, the highest concentration of Giß is in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York.

The meaning and origin of Giß is uncertain. It may have derived from the Old German "gisa," meaning strap or band. This could indicate that the surname was descriptive of a family business, or that it was a nickname for a person with an affinity for straps. Alternatively, the name could have derived from the Latin "gustus," meaning taste, in which case it was likely a patronage name conferred in honor of the family that owned a brewery.

The median age of Giß in Germany is around 47, indicating an older population group with a strong sense of family identity. In the United States, the median age of Giß is around 37, with a slightly higher portion of younger families. Worldwide, the name Giß is estimated to be held by around 8,900 people.

Variations of the surname Giß

The surname Giß has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The variants of Giß include Giss, Gies, Gees, Geß, and Geiss. These variants can be found mainly in German speaking countries such as Austria, Germany, and Switzerland as well as in countries where German immigrants settled such as the US, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Geß is the most common variant of Giß, as it is the standard German spelling of the surname. This variant is found mainly in central Europe, especially in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Gies is another variant which is mainly found in Germany and Austria. The spelling Gies arose due to a process called Umlaut, which is the addition of an Umlaut vowel to a letter. In this case, the “i” was added to the already existing “e” in the original surname Giß.

Gees is yet another variant which is more commonly found in countries like the US, Australia, and New Zealand, where German immigrants settled. This is a more anglicized version of Gies, as it is tailored to fit the English alphabet.

Geiss is the last variant and is primarily found in German-speaking countries. This is a more archaic spelling of the surname, which is still used in some regions.

Other surnames which are derived from the surname Giß include Gissel, Gissler, Gisslinger, Gissman, Gissmann, Gisselman, Gisselmann, Gießer, Gießler, and Gießling. All of these surnames are derived from the original surname Giß and can be found in many German-speaking countries.

Famous people with the name Giß

• Lena Giss: Lena is a German singer-songwriter and producer. She rose to fame when her debut single, “Glück,” debuted at #1 on the German single charts in 2018.
• Matthias Giß: Matthias is a former professional football player who played as a goalkeeper for a number of German clubs, including FSV Mainz 05.
• Friedrich Wilhelm Giss: Friedrich was a German architect during the 19th century. He was noted for the Gothic revival-style architecture he employed in his church designs.
• Wulf Giss: Wulf is a German producer and editor who has worked on numerous feature films and documentaries over the past two decades.
• Heidi Giß: Heidi is a former professional basketball player from Germany who spent the majority of her playing career with TSV Wasserburg.
• Alexander Giss: Alexander is a German filmmaker who has been nominated multiple times at the Berlin International Film Festival for feature films such as The King of the Kingdom and Misfortune.
• Florian Giss: Florian is a musician and record producer from Germany who has released a number of solo albums and has worked with several prominent German pop acts.
• Peter Giss: Peter is a German composer and multi-instrumentalist. He has written scores for many films and television shows as well as symphonic works for concert halls.
• Ulrich Giss: Ulrich is a German sculptor and painter whose works focus on the portrayal of the human figure. He is particularly noted for his life-sized bronze figures.
• Hisako Giß: Hisako is a Japanese composer who is known for her works combining traditional Japanese music with contemporary sensibilities.

Other surnames

Gißler