Surname Geissen - Meaning and Origin
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Geissen: What does the surname Geissen mean?
The last name Geissen is of German origin and is derived from the German word "Geiss," meaning "goat." It was likely a nickname for someone who was considered foolish or silly, or someone who exhibited qualities associated with goats, such as being stubborn or strong-willed. In some cases, the name may have been originated as an occupational name for someone who kept goats or sold goat's milk, while in others it may have been derived from a place name.
In addition to Germany, the name is also found in countries with German-speaking populations, such as Austria and Switzerland. Variations of the name include Giesen, Gissen, Gessen, Geison, and Geussen. Spelling variations in the United States may be attributed to the difficulty of translating from a foreign language.
Some notable people with the last name Geissen are German actress Mirjam Weichselbraun, Austrian economist Erwin Geissen, composer and musicologist Norbert Geisen, German astronomer Alfred Geissen, and historians Rainer Geissen and Paul Geissen.
Order DNA origin analysisGeissen: Where does the name Geissen come from?
The last name Geissen is most commonly found in Germany. According to The Geissen Institute, a research organization tracing the origin and expansion of the family name, the Geissen surname has roots in Bavaria, Germany and is believed to date back to the early 1300s.
The earliest records of the Geissen surname were found in the area of the Middle Rhine River Valley, and the family likely spread further to other regions of Germany from there. Though typically found in Germany, the Geissen family name can also be found in Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United States among other countries.
The Geissen Institute also maintains an online database of over 17,000 individuals with the surname. It shows that as of today, the surname is still most prevalent in Germany, accounting for 95% of Geissen family members living in that country alone. The largest Geissen population clusters in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, and Baden-Wuerttemberg, which together account for over 70% of the surname's presence in Germany.
In the United States, the surname is generally found in Pennsylvania and New York due to German immigration to the east coast in the 19th and 20th centuries. Geissen family members can also be found throughout other regions of the United States, primarily in the Midwest and southern states.
All in all, the last name Geissen is most highly concentrated in Germany with some presence also found in Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United States.
Variations of the surname Geissen
The surname Geissen has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant is spelled Giesen or Gisen, although other regional variants exist.
In Austria and Germany, the surname is written as Gisens and Gísen, while in Switzerland, it is spelled Geissen or Geisser. In the United States, the name is spelled Geezen or Geizen. The Russian and Ukrainian forms of the name are Gaysan or Geizan.
The variants of the surname Geissen include Gässen, Gizzi, Geassen, Gaissen, Gaisin and Gijsen. These variants can be found in countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the United States, Russia and Ukraine.
Surnames of the same origin include Gaisser, Gaissmann, Gaissmayer, Gessant, Geissler, Geissmann, Geißer, Giesser, Geessuss, Geissbock, Geissendorff, Giesenhausen, Geissenhuber, Geissenpflug, Gießen and Geizenberg.
As Geissen is a surname of Germanic origin, the English forms could include Geissmann or Geissenheim, with Gant as a variant spelling. The Gaelic form of the surname is Mac Gísín or Mac Giossan. The Welsh form may be Gwyson, with Gyson and Gwin as variants.
Famous people with the name Geissen
- Oliver Geissen: a German TV presenter, appearing on prominent shows such as Wetten, dass..? and Von RTL bis ARD.
- Jürgen Geissen: a German lawyer, who is former chairman of the first German football association and one of the founders of the German Sportsbund.
- Friedrich Geissen: a German composer and pianist who composed symphonies and chamber music for international audiences.
- Niclas Geissen: a German actor, best known for his roles in films like Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Pearl Harbor.
- Henning Geissen: a German radio-and-television journalist, who is since 2007 the executive director of the German broadcaster Pro 7/Sat.1.
- Vivianne Geissen: a Dutch visual artist who primarily creates installations and often works with nature and other natural elements.
- Fred Geissen: a Dutch entrepreneur who founded the FredGeissen Group, a well-known innovative renewable energy company.
- Nick Geissen: a Dutch TV presenter, best known for his popular interviews for various entertainment networks in the Netherlands.
- Ed Geissen: a Dutch film director, best known for directing award-winning films such as Ultraleicht and Turks Fruit.
- Ruben Geissen: a Dutch television personality, best known for his appearances on popular shows such as Wie Ben Je? and Wedden Dat.