Surname Goering - Meaning and Origin

Goering: What does the surname Goering mean?

Goering is a German name of uncertain origin. It may have been derived from Middle High German words for "brave," "strong," or "fierce," which were used as nicknames for fierce warriors. It may have also been derived from places in Germany named Goerlingen or Gorinchem.

The surname Goering is often associated with the name of Hermann Goering, a leading German politician and Nazi military leader. He joined the Nazi Party in 1922 and was one of Adolf Hitler’s most trusted and loyal followers. Goering was head of the German armed forces, commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe, president of the Reichstag, and a member of the War Cabinet during WWII. Following the war, he was found guilty at the Nuremberg trials and sentenced to death for his involvement in the Nazi regime’s crimes against humanity.

Goering is a common name in Germany and elsewhere. It is also the name of many German noble and aristocratic families, particularly in the area of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. In Scandinavia, it is used as the patronymic form of Görin and Göran. The name also appears in the Netherlands, thanks to Dutch emigrants to America, many of whom had taken the name Goering in the 17th century.

In the United States, the Goering family can be traced back to the early settlers of Pennsylvania. A large percentage of the Goering surname holders in America descend from the Dutch immigrant, Apollos Goerverse, who emigrated to Philadelphia in 1853.

Goering: Where does the name Goering come from?

The last name Goering is most commonly associated with Hermann Goering, a leading figure in Nazi Germany during World War II and one of the highest ranking members of the Nazi party. As such, the name Goering is not particularly common today and can be difficult to find. However, there are still some pockets of people who share this surname in Germany, Austria, and the United States.

In Germany, Goering is a moderately common name. According to the database NamStats, there are approximately 1,764 bearers of the name Goering in Germany, with the vast majority living in the former East Germany region of Saxony.

In Austria, there are a few hundred individuals who bear the name Goering, primarily living in Vienna and the surrounding area.

In the United States, there are some individuals of German and Austrian descent who bear the Goering last name. According to the Social Security Death Index, 84 individuals with the last name Goering were recorded as deceased in the United States between the years 1937 and 2018.

Though the name Goering may not be as widespread as it was in the wake of World War II, it is still a fairly common name in some parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Goering

The surname Goering is mainly found in Germany and is an anglicised form of the German Göring surname, with different variants in different countries. The surname originated in the Upper Bavarian town of Fürstenzell near Passau, where Göring was first found in the 12th century. It is derived from the old Germanic word "Guarin" (fierce) or "Goren" (spear).

Variant spellings of Goering include Goring, Goerin, Goehring, Gerring, Gehring, Guering, Goerling, Geering, and Gering.

A common variant of the name in England is Goreing, which is believed to have been an Anglicised version of the name. In the United States, the spelling Gering is commonly found due to the name's anglicisation. In France, a variant spelling is Gouren, and in Italy it is Gorring or Goringo.

There are also other surnames of the same origin such as Görtz, Görtner, Goerlitz, Görs, Goertz, and Goertzberg. These are all related to and derived from the original surname Göring.

In Germany, Goering is the most common form of the surname, but it is found in various forms in other countries. In the Czech Republic, the most common variant of the name is Gering. In Switzerland, Göring is the most common variant of the surname. Similarly, in the Netherlands, Göring is the most common variant of the name, whereas in Belgium, Gorin is the most common variant.

No matter the variant spelling, the surname Goering is of German origin and conveys a message of fierceness.

Famous people with the name Goering

• Hermann Göring: Possibly the most famous Goering with this surname, Hermann was a senior Nazi figure during World War II, best known for serving as Hitler’s second-in-command in the Luftwaffe.
• Karl-Heinz Goering: Karl-Heinz was Hermann Goering’s nephew by his sister Edda. Like his uncle, Karl-Heinz held high ranks in the Nazi Party.
• Erhard Goering: Erhard was also Hermann’s nephew, a nephew by marriage making him a first cousin of Karl-Heinz. Erhard held the rank of General Major in the Luftwaffe during World War II.
• Heinz-Günther Goering: Heinz-Günther was Hermann Goering’s cousin and studied Art History at the University of Munich.
• Olga Goering: Olga was Hermann Goering’s wife up until 1971.
• Aenne Goering: Aenne was also Hermann Goering’s wife and a well-known opera singer who performed alongside her husband.
• Emmy Goering: Emmy was Hermann Goering’s second wife and an actress who acted in movies alongside her husband.
• Duci Goering: Duci was the daughter of Olga and Hermann Goering.
• Gustav Goering: Gustav held the rank of General in the German Air Force during World War II.
• Eduard Goering: Eduard was a Nazi general and Hermann’s brother.

Other surnames

GoerissenGoerißen