Surname Kirchgasser - Meaning and Origin
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Kirchgasser: What does the surname Kirchgasser mean?
The last name Kirchgasser is an occupational surname of German origin. It derives from the Middle High German words “kirch” and “gassen” literally meaning ‘church gatherer’. This was a person responsible for collecting and distributing money from the parish members or other donors for the purpose of maintaining the church and its grounds.
The surname Kirchgasser spread in the Middle Ages to Austria, Germany, and the Alsace region of France. It is a fairly uncommon name, however, with many bearers mostly located in the modern day countries surrounding the region in which it began.
In some countries a variant of the name exists such as Kirchenasser in some regions of Austria, and this could indicate that the origin of the name is somewhat unknown or overshadowed by the more common form. Spelling variations of the name include Kirchgassner (a predominant spelling variation of the name in Austria) and Kirchgässer. No matter the form though, the original meaning of the name remains the same and continues to honor its occupational heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisKirchgasser: Where does the name Kirchgasser come from?
The last name Kirchgasser is believed to originate from Bavaria, Germany, during the 8th century. While its origins remain mostly unknown, there are records that suggest it was commonly used by families of the region.
Today, the name Kirchgasser is not a popular name, but it is still found throughout Europe, in countries like Austria, Hungary, and Switzerland. While its not among the top 1000 surnames in Europe, it is still used in smaller, rural communities.
It is still used in parts of the United States of America as well, primarily in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. It is believed that the largest number of people of that surname in the US are located in Ohio. Various records regarding the name exist in several states, and it is likely that some of its descendants still reside there today.
The surname is also found in Canada's provinces of British Columbia, Quebec, and Ontario, as well as in some parts of Australia.
Overall, the last name Kirchgasser is not considered to be a commonly used name in today's society, but there are still plenty of areas where it can still be found.
Variations of the surname Kirchgasser
Kirchgasser is a German surname derived from the Middle High German words kirche ("church") and gaz ("goose"), and is traditionally thought to be an occupational name given to a church worker who took care of the church geese. Other variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin which share the same meaning include:
Kirchenheiser, Kirchheiser, Kirchhauser, Kircheıser, Kirchhäuser, Kirchhesser, Kirchenhofer, Kirchhoffer, Kirchgeise, Kirchgeisser, Kirchgesse, Kirchgesse, Kirchgässer, Kirchhasser, and Kirchheiser.
Kirchenheiser is the most common variant of the name and is almost always rendered with an ‘e’, whereas the rest of the variations of the surname are almost always rendered with an ‘a’.
Kirchenheiser is the most common spelling of the surname, and is still prevalent today in different parts of Germany. It is also found in the United States and Canada, as many settle from of German ancestry.
Kirchenheiser is also the most common surname of the same origin in English-speaking countries, although variants like Kirchgasser, Kirchhaffer, and Kirchgeisse can still be found.
Kirchhaffer is a variant of the same origin found in the United States and is mostly used by people of German descent. This spelling of the surname is less common than others, but still remains prevalent in certain parts of the US.
Kirchgeise is a variant of the same origin found in certain parts of Germany, and is the rarest variant of the same origin. This spelling of the surname is very uncommon, and is only used by a small portion of the German population.
Overall, Kirchgasser is the most common variant and spelling of the surname. It is still the prevalent surname of the same origin in Germany, and can still be seen in many parts of the United States and Canada. The other variations of the same origin are much less common, and are only found in certain parts of the United States and Germany.
Famous people with the name Kirchgasser
- Peter Kirchgasser, Austrian Slovak footballer
- Ferdinand Kirchgasser, Austrian politician
- Gerhard Kirchgasser, Austrian politician
- Erwin Kirchgasser, sports journalist
- Karl Kirchgasser, Austrian writer
- Günther Kirchgasser, Austrian-American Christian missionary
- Martin Kirchgasser, Austrian composer
- Kurt Kirchgasser, Austrian journalist
- Horst Kirchgasser, Austrian-Australian photographer
- Johannes Kirchgasser, Austrian ski racer
- Anna Kirchgasser, Austrian snowboarder
- Benedikt Kirchgasser, Austrian football manager
- Achim Kirchgasser, Austrian dad racer
- Franz Kirchgasser, Austrian sculptor
- Maria Kirchgasser, Austrian curler
- Nino Kirchgasser, Austrian race car driver
- Helmut Kirchgasser, Austrian football manager
- Hannibal Kirchgasser, Austrian footballer
- Peter Kirchgasser, Austrian politician
- Christian Kirchgasser, Austrian long-distance runner