Surname Gerdes - Meaning and Origin
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The iGENEA DNA Test's Impact on Understanding My Identity and the Gerdes Heritage
The iGENEA DNA test I took recently offered me a more profound knowledge and appreciation of my heritage and personal identity. The strongest impact was the revelation related to the Gerdes surname, my family name.
N. Gerdes
read moreGerdes: What does the surname Gerdes mean?
The surname Gerdes is of German origin. This name is derived from the personal name Gerhard, which is composed of the Germanic elements ger, meaning “spear” and hard, meaning “brave” or “strong”. As such, the name Gerdes is likely to have started out as a nickname for someone considered to be brave or strong.
The name has been found in Germany since at least the 11th century. It was common in the German states of Holstein, Brandenburg, Hanover and Thuringia. In Dutch, the name is spelled Gerdesz, which is a variation of the original spelling.
The Gerdes surname is also found in many parts of the United States, particularly in the Midwest, where many German immigrants settled during the 19th century. In the 2000 US Census, approximately 2,902 people were reported to have the surname Gerdes.
In modern times, the Gerdes name is associated with both German and Dutch heritage, and is found around the world. Those with this surname often take pride in their German roots and may place a high emphasis on loyalty, honor and tradition. They are also likely to be highly conscientious individuals who take great satisfaction in a job done well.
Order DNA origin analysisGerdes: Where does the name Gerdes come from?
The last name Gerdes is most commonly found in Germany, especially in the northern region. In fact, the surname is the 69th most popular name throughout the country. The moniker is also quite widespread in the Netherlands, where it ranks as the 153rd most common surname.
In the United States, the name is quite uncommon. It is estimated that there are only a few thousand individuals with the name, making it the 12,672nd most common name in the nation. The highest concentrations of the name are in the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Missouri, particularly in counties near the Wisconsin border.
Outside of Europe and North America, one can also find people with the last name Gerdes in Argentina, where it is one of the most popular German surnames. There are also a few scattered occurrences of the surname in various countries around the world, mostly in areas where German migration occurred.
Variations of the surname Gerdes
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Gerdes are Gerdts, Gerdesmeijer, Gerdsmitt, Gerdsmeyer, Gerdsmann, Gerdesjager, and Greds.
Gerdes is a German surname from the area close to the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium border. It is derived from the German name Gerd, which is a form of the old German name Gerhard. The surname first appears in a document from the 16th century when a man named Clas Gerdes, from Detmold, Germany signed a document in 1585.
The spelling Gerdts is an alternative of Gerdes, derived from the suffix “-ts” which is used in Dutch and German names. Gerdesmeijer and Gerdsmeyer are derived from the occupation of a miller.
Gerdsmitt is a combination of Gerd and Mitt, the German word for middle, often used to indicate a man’s place in his family. Given names ending with “-mitt” usually indicate a father and son with the same first name living in the same area and time.
Gerdsmann is a combination of Gerd and Mann, the German word for man. Similar surnames include Gerdesjager, which means hunter, and Greds, which may also be a variant of Gerdes.
Famous people with the name Gerdes
- Catherine Gerdes: American actress
- Eddie Gerdes: American actor
- Hugo Gerdes: German businessman and philanthropist
- Katarina Gerdes: American model and contestant on America's Next Top Model
- Liz Gerdes: American musician, member of the indie rock band Angelica Rocket
- Sabrina Gerdes: American singer-songwriter
- Sibylle Gerdes: German Doctor, author, and policy advisor
- Eric Gerdes: Award-winning Dutch photographer
- Henry Gerdes: Danish businessman and shipping magnate
- Jürgen Gerdes: German business executive and former CEO of Deutsche Post