Surname Gerney - Meaning and Origin
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Gerney: What does the surname Gerney mean?
The last name Gerney is of German origin and is an occupational surname, derived from the Middle High German word “gerner” which translates to granary owner or supervisor.
The name is believed to have been used as a patronymic, and those who bore it could have been descended from a man by the name of Gern, or it could have denoted a trait or habit of someone in the family.
The Gerney family are believed to have originated in the Rhineland region of Germany, which has long been a major centre for culture and industry in the country. From the Rhineland, the family spread to other parts of Germany, especially northern Germany.
As with many German surnames, the name may have been changed when the family migrated to other countries. In the United States, for instance, a spelling variant of the name is “Garni”.
In addition to its German roots, the name has also been used in other countries such as Poland, where it may have been chosen to signify the presence of a granary in the home of the family.
Overall, the last name Gerney is a reminder of the strong connection between family names, geography, and occupation. It helps to provide a link between those who share the surname and their distant relatives and ancestors. It is also a reminder of how diverse the history and culture of Germany are, and how this gave rise to the many variations in German surnames.
Order DNA origin analysisGerney: Where does the name Gerney come from?
The surname Gerney is known to be of German origin. Today, it is mostly concentrated in the United States, particularly in the Midwest. The states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, and Michigan have the largest numbers of those with the surname Gerney.
In Wisconsin, the surname is commonly found in parts of Adams and Crawford County, with the largest concentration being in the town of Soldiers Grove. In Minnesota, there are larger groups of those with the surname Gerney living in the regions of Mille Lacs and Blue Earth. In Missouri, the surname is more spread out in locations such as DeKalb County, St. Louis, and St. Charles County, with the greatest concentration in Maysville. Finally, in Michigan, those with the last name Gerney are found in the area surrounding Detroit, including Macomb County and Oakland County.
Though the surname is still quite popular in the United States, those of German decent may be more likely to find it overseas, particularly in areas in the current day such as France, Italy, and Switzerland.The surname is still also found in parts of Germany, with the greatest concentration in Franconia.
Variations of the surname Gerney
The variants and alternate spellings of the surname Gerney include Garnie, Garnye, Gernie, Gernee, Garni, Garnay, Gerne, Gerneye, Gournay, Gournie, Gurnee and Gurny.
Gerney is an anglicized version of the Germanic surname Gernie which was derived from the personal name Gernon, which in turn was derived from a Germanic element “gar” meaning “spear”.
The surname Gernon was brought to Ireland by the Normans who invaded in 1169 and the surname was found to be particularly popular in County Cork.
Gernon is an uncommon given name in England and is more common in Ireland, where the Gaelic form of the name is Mac Gernáin. This surname is still popular in Ireland with variants such as Gernon, Garney and Gerney.
The surname has also been found in Scotland, Scotland having been influenced to some extent by the Normans, and the name Gernon has a presence in Northern Ireland, with the variants Mackernan and MacGurney.
In the United States, Gerney is a fairly common surname, with a wide distribution throughout much of the country. A variant spelling is Gurney, which is mainly found in the northeast and western parts of the country. A variant spellings of Gerney in other parts of the world include Garney, Garni and Garny.
Famous people with the name Gerney
- Michaela Gerney: American discus thrower
- Allen Gerney: American artist
- Lorenzo Gerney: Italian actor
- Michelle Gerney: American actress
- Nicole Gerney: American actress
- Barry Gerney: British actor
- Corene Gerney: American businesswoman
- Patrick Gerney: British actor
- Jonny Gerney: German musician
- Pandora Gerney: American dance instructor
- Matteo Gerney: Italian journalist
- Julian Gerney: American homeless activist
- Jocelyne Gerney: French fashion entrepreneur
- Lowrie Gerney: American gadget reviewer
- Javier Gerney: Cuban journalist
- Stephen Gerney: American philosopher
- Moses Gerney: American football player
- Mark Gerney: American musician
- Jonathan Gerney: American comedian
- Nathen Gerney: American politician