Surname Geis - Meaning and Origin
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Geis: What does the surname Geis mean?
The last name Geis is derived from an old German word meaning "spirit." It is thought that the name was originally given to someone who was considered to have mystical or magical powers, such as a healer, a soothsayer or a wise person.
The Geis surname is also thought to come from the Middle High German root "geiz", meaning "pin" or "clasp." This suggests that the family may have originated in a region where sewing and tailoring were important crafts. It is possible that individuals with this last name may have originally been involved in this occupation.
Today, there are many people with the last name Geis, across the world. Common forms of the surname include the German Gehse, Giese, and Gise. It is also anglicized as Gies and Gees.
In the United States, more than 14,000 people claim the surname Geis. The largest concentrations of the surname are found in the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois. It is believed that those with the surname descended from a group who immigrated from Germany in the late 17th or early 18th century.
No matter its origins, the name Geis has given its descendants a common identity and heritage. Its meaning holds a sense of deeper wisdom and mysticism, an idea to strive for and strive towards.
Order DNA origin analysisGeis: Where does the name Geis come from?
The last name Geis is most commonly found in countries of German and Austrian heritage, such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. It is also a popular family name in the United States, where it is most commonly found in Pennsylvania and Michigan, and in Ohio. In addition to these locations, the Geis surname also exists among families of German, Austrian, and Swiss origin throughout the rest of the United States.
The last name Geis originates from Middle High German and means “goose” or “seagull”. It is likely derived from both the physical characteristics of these birds and their vocalizations.
Historically, the name Geis likely started as a nickname for someone with similar characteristics to a goose or a seagull and eventually evolved into a family name. It could be used to refer to someone who was considered to be foolish, clumsy, carefree, or someone who had a tendency to wander.
In today’s society, the last name Geis is still a popular Austrian, German, and Swiss family name, although it can also be found among other nationalities. Overall, those bearing the name today mostly maintain the same mellow, calming, and carefree reputation that was originally attributed to this family name.
Variations of the surname Geis
The surname Geis is a German name that refers to an area of origin and indicates to which family the holder of this surname belonged to. There are a few variations of spelling the surname including Gais, Gees, Gays, Geys, Kays, Keys, Gaiss, and Gheis.
Gaiss is the old spelling of the surname Geis and was common in Bavaria while Gheis was more common in Lower Saxony. These older variations are still seen in the present-day as well. In Austria the surname is written as ‘Gehs’ and is pronounced ‘gayce’.
The surnames developed from the surname Geis are Geisser, Geissinger, Geisendorfer, Geisterschlager, Geisler, Geisseler, Geiseler, and Geisel. These surnames developed as a result of people moving to different areas of Germany or Europe.
The name Geis can also be found in other European countries such as the Netherlands, France, and Spain. The surnames in these countries similar to Geis are Gees, Geys, Keysser, Keys, Geisendorfer, Geysseler, Gys, and Mackys.
In the United States, the surname Geis may have been changed to they phonetic equivalent Gay, due to the trends of sound recording for surnames at the time of immigration. The same phenomenon occurred when the name Geis was taken to countries such as Scotland, where the surname was changed to the sound partner ‘Ghee’.
Famous people with the name Geis
- Andy Geis: professional baseball player
- Michael Geis: American actor
- Gottfried Geis: German footballer
- Ryan Geis: American film producer
- Christine Geis: American chemist
- Jennifer Geis: American author
- Jan Geis: American television writer
- Paul Geis: American venture capitalist
- Gretel Geis: German actress
- Carol Geis: American chemist
- Susan Geis: American genealogist
- Waldemar Geis: German politician
- André Geis: German comedian
- David Geis: American actor
- Daniel Geis: German mathematician
- Alan Geis: American theologian
- Ryan Geis: American animator
- Christoph Geis: German neuroscientist
- Reinhold Geis: German physicist
- Eric Geis: American baseball player