Surname Geilfus - Meaning and Origin
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Geilfus: What does the surname Geilfus mean?
The last name Geilfus is of German origin and is believed to mean “good heart” or “kind heart”. This originated from the Old German word “Gel”, meaning “good” or “gracious” that was combined with the word “fridu” which means “heart”. This surname was likely a nickname used to describe someone who was known for being kind or benevolent.
The Geilfus surname can be found in various German records from as far and as long ago as the 16th century where it was recorded as “Ghelffus”, “Geilfus” and “Gelfuss”. This suggests that the name was relatively common in Germany during this period.
Today, the Geilfus name is relatively uncommon, but is still found most commonly in Germany. It is estimated that there are approximately 800 people who share this surname throughout the world, most of them living in Germany.
The Geilfus family has a long and proud history of kindness. It stands as a testament that acts of kindness and compassion can be remembered and passed down through generations. And, for the Geilfus family, kindness will linger on for centuries to come.
Order DNA origin analysisGeilfus: Where does the name Geilfus come from?
Geilfus is a rare surname, but it is best known in the historical context from the south-western part of Germany. Records of this surname date back to the 17th century in the region of the Hunsrück, a picturesque mountain range between the Moselle and the Rhine River.
The last name is often associated with the small villages of Abtei and Einhart located in the Hunsrück mountain range. Its German translation, Geil Fuchs, literally means “fierce fox”, further strengthening the association with the abbey towns in the region.
Today the surname is less commonly seen in Germany, however a concentration of Geilfus remains in the Rheinland-Pfalz area. Variants of the name such as Geilfuss, Gailfus, or Galeufus can also be found in surrounding areas such as Switzerland, France, and the United States. In the United States, Geilfus is most commonly seen in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.
Although rare, the surname Geilfus is still sometimes used in its original form in the southwestern part of Germany and has managed to survive and migrate to other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Geilfus
Geilfus is a German surname of Frankish origin. The most common spelling is Geilfuss, and the variants include Geilfuß, Geiffuss, Geiffuß, Geilfoes, Geilfös, Geilffs, Geilffß, Gylfoos, Gylfös, and Gyilfus. It is a patronymic surname, derived from the ancient personal name 'Gilo'.
The surname can be spelled in many other ways. Some common variants are Gelfus, Gellfuss, Gelfuss, Gellfuß, Gelfuß, Gelfoes, Gelfös, Gellfoes, Gellfös, Gelfffs, Gelfffß, Gylfus, Gylfuss, Gylfuß, Gylfoes, Gylfös, Gyillfus, Gyillfuss, Gyilfus, Gyillfuß, and Gyillfoes.
Geilfus is also sometimes used as a variant of Geilfuss, Geiffus, or Gylfus. Variants of the surname, which were used in the past, include Gelvus, Gelvuss, Gelvuß, Gelvoes, Gelvös, Gellvus, Gellvuss, Gellvös and Gellvuß.
Most of the variants of the Geilfus surname can be found in various parts of Germany today. They can be found in southern Germany, where the surname originated, as well as other parts of Europe, North America, Australia, and other continents.
It is also interesting to note that the surname of Geilfus is related to other German surnames such as Geiler, Geilen, Geisler, and Geisser. All these surnames have similar origins, and can be traced back to the same Frankish family.
Famous people with the name Geilfus
- Luke Geilfus: Belgian singer-songwriter, record label director and producer.
- Katherine Geilfus: French novelist and short story writer.
- Kelly Geilfus: American pitcher for Team USA in the Pan American Games.
- Bart Geilfus: Dutch brass band conductor.
- Olivier Geilfus: French classical pianist
- Csaba Geilfus: Hungarian modern pentathlete and Olympic silver medalist.
- Imre Geilfus: Hungarian visual artist and sculptor.
- Patrick Geilfus: French politician and former Mayor of Lons-le-Saunier.
- Jan Geilfus: Belgian professional basketball player.
- Nicolas Geilfus: French alpinist, mountain guide, glaciologist and historian.
- Jody Geilfus: American singer-songwriter and actress.
- Paul Geilfus: German physician and journalist.
- Manfred Geilfus: German academy award nominated director and screenwriter.