Surname Gertje - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Gertje: What does the surname Gertje mean?
The last name Gertje is of Dutch origin. It is derived from the name Gert, an old Germanic name meaning “strong with a spear”. The suffix “-je” is a diminutive that shows affection and often indicates a child or pet name.
Due to Holland’s history, there are several variations of the surname Gertje. These variants include Gerrtje, Gartje, Gerdje, and Gertje.
The Gertje family has been traced back to the Middle Ages when Dutch immigrants settled near present-day Amsterdam. Through the centuries, the Gertje surname has spread to North America, New Zealand, and Australia.
Today, Gertje is still common in the Netherlands and is also worn by people of Dutch descent in other countries. Members of the Gertje family typically have a strong sense of duty to their community and faith in God. They also value integrity and are hardworking.
Despite the growing popularity of the Gertje last name, there is still little known about the origin or meaning of the name. It could be related to the old Dutch verb “gerten”, which means to throw or cast, or it could be related to the old German name “Gert”. Whatever the origin, the name Gertje is known for its strong affiliation with the Dutch people and culture.
Order DNA origin analysisGertje: Where does the name Gertje come from?
The last name Gertje is most commonly found in several countries in Europe such as the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria. Gertje is a patronymic last name, derived from given names with the initial "Ger-". Germanic names beginning with "Ger-" include Gerhard and Gertrude.
Gertje first emerged in the Netherlands, where it is recorded as the earliest known surname in the 10th century. Dutch records dating back to the Middle Ages mention the patronymic Gertonel de Roussillon, a nobleman who was exiled from Bodegraven in 1282. His descendants adopted the surname Gertje, as a result of the patronymic custom of including the father's given name as the first part of a child's surname.
In Germany, the surname Gertje became more common after the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. It is especially popular in the north and west of the country, where it originated.
Austria also has a significant presence of Gertje, but it is of less frequent in other European countries such as France and Switzerland. Of course, the surname Gertje can also be found scattered across the world, as it has been carried by Dutch immigrants to places such as the United States, Canada, South Africa, and Australia.
Variations of the surname Gertje
The surname Gertje, goes by many different spellings, surnames, and variants, depending on the specific culture and group of people.
Primarily, Gertje is a Dutch-origin name, where it's spelled with a ‘j’ and it is a nickname for Gertrude or Geraldine. In Dutch culture, it is often spelled 'Gertje', but other spellings include Gerti, Gertje, Gertney, Gertne, Gertney, Gertje, Gerton, Gertje, Gertraut, Gertraud, Gertrud, Gertruyd, Gertruud, Gertrude, and Gertry.
In an English-origin context, Gert is commonly used as a variant for Gertje, while other variants and spellings include Gerta, Gertrude, Gertz, Greckl, Grerts, Gerte, Gert and Geard.
In Norwegian origin, Gertje variants are commonly spelled as Gertrud, Gertruud, Gertrudt, Gerts, Gertsi, Girtza, Gertsiy, Gertruu, Girtz, Girt, and Gertry.
In Swedish origin, Gertje is typically spelled as Gertrud, Gertrude, Gertrut, Gertruuda, Gertruud, Gertroup, Gertrutas, Gertroy, Gertruzen, and Gertry.
In German-origin context, Gertje goes by many different spellings and surnames, such as Gertrud, Gertraud, Gertruest, Gertrunde, Gertrut, Gertmaeus, Grerts, Grertz, Geerte, Gertel, Gerten, Gertka, and Gertke.
In Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and French origin, Gertje is more commonly known by the surname Gertrude, although spelled differently, such as Beretruida, Gerda, Gertje, Gertraud, Gertruida, Gertrudes, Gertrudes, Gertrudez, Gertruede, Gertrona, Gertrudine, Gertrudo, and Gheta.
Overall, Gertje is commonly used with many different spellings, variants and surnames in many different cultures and language groups.
Famous people with the name Gertje
- Sandrina Gertje:- figurative and abstract artist from Germany
- Lars Gertje:- goaltender for Eisbaeren Bremerhaven, German professional ice hockey team
- Varinia Gertje:- Venezuelan beauty queen and Miss Venezuela 2018
- Maurice Gertje:- Dutch speed skating champion and Olympian
- Carson Gertje:- Australian professional baseball pitcher for the Brisbane Bandits
- David Gertje:- guitar player and composer from Berg and Dal, Netherlands
- Dan-Karl Gertje:- Australian Paralympic cyclist and 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medalist
- Ardi Gertje:- Canadian Olympic sprint kayaker
- Richard Gertje:- German tennis player and winner of men's doubles at German National Tennis Championships
- Gunhild H. Gertje:- German astronomer and expert on comets and cometary science