Surname Geißdörfer - Meaning and Origin
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Geißdörfer: What does the surname Geißdörfer mean?
The last name Geißdörfer is a Germanic patronymic surname which is derived from the surname Geiß. Geiß is a German word which can be translated to 'goat' or 'billygoat'. This surname is attested in the region of Bavaria from before the ninth century and is found in north-western Germany and Austria, where it is still popular today.
The surname Geißdörfer is formed by adding a diminutive suffix '–dörfer' to the 'Geiß' surname. This suffix literally means 'village' or 'dwelling', but it is used to create a surname that suggests an individual's parentage. By taking on this surname, the Geiß family would be indicating that they had an ancestor who was a descendent of the 'Geiß' family.
The surname Geißdörfer probably refers to someone from a small village where the main occupation was the breeding of goats. From the Middle Ages, it has been customary for farmers to keep their own herd of goats to provide milk, meat and additional income. During this time, goat herders in Germany were often referred to as 'Geißhirten' or 'Goatherds'.
Therefore, the surname Geißdörfer probably represents a village where goat herding was the main industry, and the families who lived there were related to the Geiß family.
Order DNA origin analysisGeißdörfer: Where does the name Geißdörfer come from?
The last name Geißdörfer is most commonly found in Germany today, particularly in the southern region of Bavaria. Spelling variations of the name include Geissdoerfer, Geissdörfer, Gaisdörfer, Geissdörffer, Geiddörfer, Geissedörfer, Geidsöorfer and Gaisdorfer.
The name likely dates back to the Middle Ages, when the German suffix dörfer (which means ‘village’) was used to describe settlements. In the Bavarian language, Geiß denotes a ‘goat’. Thus, it is believed that the name Geißdörfer may have referred to a local Village of Goats or a settlement of goat herders.
In modern times, Geißdörfer can be found in areas throughout Germany such as Berlin, Dresden, Hamburg, Munich, and Stuttgart. The name is also found in various countries across Europe, particularly in Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
The name is not limited to individuals descended from the original Geißdörfer family. Individuals who settle in any of these areas may adopt the surname, regardless of their heritage. As the name has spread over centuries due to migrations and intermarriages, the Geißdörfer name can also be found in countries outside of Europe, such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil.
Overall, the last name Geißdörfer is one of the more common names in Germany and across Europe. While its origins may have been in a single Bavarian village, its meaning has spread far beyond its original bounds.
Variations of the surname Geißdörfer
The surname Geißdörfer has a few different variants and spellings. These variants typically originate from different regions or languages. For example, the most common spelling of the surname is Geißdörfer, which is German for "goat town". Other German spellings include Geissdörfer, Geißdorfer, Geissdorfer, Geißdörffer, and Geissdörffer.
Variants of the name have also been found in the Netherlands, where it appears as Geunsdörffer. This is due to the Dutch language having a tendency to drop the letter 's'. In the Czech Republic, the surname has been recorded as Hladik; in Switzerland, as Geisshölzer; and in Italy, as Gelsdorfer.
Other variants of the name include Geiszdörfer in Austria, Geisdörffer, Geisdörper, Geiszdörffer, and Geiszdörper in Germany, Goedvoor in the Netherlands, Gizdorfer and Goezdorfer in Poland, Gidofalvi in Hungary, Putoveck in Croatia, and Goezdorf in Romania.
Surnames which share the same origin and have a similar spelling are Gessdörfer, Gieddörfer, Gädörfer, Güdörfer, Giödörfer, Geisendorfer, Geiszendorfer, Geisdorfer, and Geezdorfer.
Overall, the surname Geißdörfer has several different variants in different languages and regions, but they all ultimately have the same origin.
Famous people with the name Geißdörfer
- Matthias Geißdörfer: German director, screenwriter, producer and author
- Jana Geißdörfer: German actress
- Michael Geißdörfer: German film producer, director and screenwriter
- Hans Jürgen Geißdörfer: German director
- Erna Geißdörfer: German actress
- Ambros Geißdörfer: Austrian politician
- Barbara Geißdörfer: German actress
- Walter Geißdörfer: German actor
- Eugen Geißdörfer: German artist
- Wilhelm Geißdörfer: German architect, artist, and mural painter
- Werner Geißdörfer: German politician
- Martin Geißdörfer: German agronomist
- Iris Geißdörfer-Schaefer: German former swimmer
- Hans Geißdörfer: German rower
- Jochen Geißdörfer: German musicologist
- Maria Geißdörfer: German sculptor and professor of academics
- Roman Geißdörfer: German rower
- Adolf Geißdörfer: German watercolour painter
- Joachim Geißdörfer: German football manager
- Ekkehart Geißdörfer: German writer