Surname Gerathwohl - Meaning and Origin
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Gerathwohl: What does the surname Gerathwohl mean?
The last name Gerathwohl is of German origin and is found mainly in the Central and Eastern parts of the country. The name itself is derived from the German gerat meaning "edge, boundary, limit" and wohl means "wellbeing, favor, welfare". The name then combines to roughly translate to "marked area of country where the welfare of people is guaranteed".
The surname could have been given to generations of those who lived in house near the boundary of a certain area. It also has been speculated that the name might refer to a specific political leader in the century past who had a hand in declaring the borders and determined the level of wellbeing of the people living within it.
In modern times, the name Gerathwohl is not a common one in German, but there are a few families who carry the name proudly. Those families are often proud to be a part of German history and of the hardworking people that were part of creating the boundaries and structures of nations that are still in place today. It is a reminder of the strength of the nation, and of the importance of always looking towards the betterment of the country and its people.
Order DNA origin analysisGerathwohl: Where does the name Gerathwohl come from?
The last name Gerathwohl is predominantly found in Austria and southeastern Germany today.
This surname is relatively uncommon outside of the region and is likely of Bavarian origin, making it rare to find it elsewhere. Although it is a less common surname, it is not widely found in records but does appear occasionally in other countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and England.
In Austria, where the name is more common, it is found in many of the southern and westernmost towns. It is generally attributed to those living in the provinces of Tyrol, Styria, Salzburg, and Carinthia. The name has been known to be present in the city of Vienna and other areas near it but not as frequently.
In Germany, the Gerathwohl name may be found in Bavaria and Rhineland-Pfalz as well as areas primarily located around Bavaria and Resource-Palatinate. The name may also be found in districts such as Hamm, Merzig, Konstanz and Berchtesgaden.
The origin of the Gerathwohl name is unclear although it is believed to have derived from the word ‘gerath’ which means ‘rampart’ or ‘fortification’ implying a perhaps military background, and the suffix ‘wohl’ which indicates well-being or good fortune. It is possible that the name may have originated as an occupational surname but this is uncertain.
Variations of the surname Gerathwohl
The origin of the surname Gerathwohl stems from a combination of two German words - "gerat" meaning "gear" and "wohl" meaning "well". The name is derived from an ancestor likely to have been a skilled or knowledgeable craftsman in the making of gears.
Variations of the name include Gerathwohle, Gerathwuhle, Geraethwohl, Garathwohl, Garrathwohl, Garrathwuhle, Garrathwhole, Garethwuhle, Garethwohl e, Garrethwule, Garrethwuhlle, Gerratwohl, Garradwohl, Gerrunwohl, Gerrodwohl, Geradwohl, Garuthwuhle, Gerodwohl, Garluthwohl, Garluthwohle, Gerodwhole, Garathewohl, and Gerethwhole.
Surnames sharing the same origin include Gajkowiak, Gawron, Gerwert, Goldapp, Gomola, Gothe, Gotowka, Gryla, Grzecki, Grzeszkowiak, Jezierska, Jezierski, Jurasz, Korecki, Koralewski, Kostrzewski, Koppel, Kregiel, Krenkowski, Kudrzyk, Latocha, Michalik, Nabsterdam, Rajczyk, and Rutkowski.
Regardless of the variation in spelling, these names have the same meaning and stem from the same origin. They all reflect the same craftsmanship of gear making and point to the same ancestor in the family’s ancestry.
Famous people with the name Gerathwohl
- Giselher Gerathwohl, a German cyclist
- Manuela Gerathwohl, a German women's football player
- Hans Gerathwohl, a German architect
- Helmut Gerathwohl, a German footballer
- Uschi Gerathwohl, a German cyclist
- Atilla Gerathwohl, a German military historian
- Peter Gerathwohl, a German film producer
- Amanda Gerathwohl, a German art therapist
- Leo Gerathwohl, a German football coach
- Alfred Gerathwohl, a Hungarian-Austrian architect and builder