Surname Gertler - Meaning and Origin

Gertler: What does the surname Gertler mean?

Gertler is a surname of German, Dutch, and Ashkenazi Jewish origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word “gertel”, meaning “a smallrod” and is likely a occupational name for small article makers, such as nails or needles. The name is also Gaelic in origin and is a variation of the Gaelic phrase “galdor”, which translates to “the power of words”. The Gaelic version of the name is spelled Gartair.

It is primarily found in Germany, Austria, and the United States. In the United States, Gertlers are most commonly found in Pennsylvania, New York, and California.

Gertler is also the name of a Jewish banking family that first established itself in Hungary in the 1750s. This family, whose name translates as “money merchants”, became one of the most prominent banking families in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Sometime around the late 1800s, the Gertlers moved to London, England and spread their influence throughout the financial world.

Additionally, the Gertler family helped to finance many important historical events, such as the funding of World War I, the rebuilding of Paris, and the modernization of various industries throughout Europe.

Ultimately, the Gertler surname is a powerful and influential one, both in terms of its heritage and its modern-day implications.

Gertler: Where does the name Gertler come from?

The last name Gertler is most commonly found today in communities of Jews who originate from Central and Eastern Europe. This includes the Ashkenazi Jewish community, whose roots trace back to Germany, Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic. It is also found in other Central and Eastern European countries, such as Romania, Hungary, and Lithuania.

The surname is thought to have originated in Germany, where evidence of its use dates back to the 16th century. It is likely derived from an ancestral profession as a craftsman, from the German word ‘gurtel’, meaning ‘cord’ or ‘strap’. The profession would have involved creating decorative straps and cords for clothing.

In modern times, people with the last name Gertler are spread out across the globe, and have made their mark in different fields including the arts, commerce, politics, and science. Perhaps the first Gertler to find ultimate fame and success was Valentin Gertler, who was an iconic conductor of classic symphony music in the early 1900s.

Gertler is also a fairly common name amongst the Jewish diaspora. People with this last name can be found in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, the United Kingdom, France, parts of Africa, India, China, and more. With the number of Gertlers growing every day, it is likely to remain a recognizable last name for years to come.

Variations of the surname Gertler

Gertler is a German-Jewish surname, derived from the German word for “spear” or “lance” (“gerten”). The exact origins of the surname are unknown, but it is believed to have emerged as a patronymic, or name derived from the father’s given name, in the Middle Ages.

Variants of Gertler include Gertel, Gerteler, Gerteles, Gertlay, Gertle, Gertlich and Gertola.

Spellings of Gertler found in documents include Gaertle, Gaertli, Gaertlinger, Gertel, Girtel, Girtely, Girtla, Gortler and Gurtler.

Other surnames of the same origin include Gerstel, Gerstell, Gerstle, Gertsl, Girtsl and Gurtstle.

The surnames of Gertler and its variants and spellings are all found in areas of Central and Eastern Europe, including Germany, Austria, Czechia, Poland and Hungary. They are also found in North America, primarily in areas settled by German-Jewish refugees in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Famous people with the name Gertler

• Mark Gertler: British painter, closely associated with the figure of C.R.W. Nevinson and the London group of artists of the early twentieth century
• Mordecai Gertler: Actor, producer and director in the Yiddish Theater during the 1930s and 1940s
• Caroline Gertler: Award-winning movie editor renowned for her work on Wolfgang Petersen’s 1984 cult classic The NeverEnding Story
• Mozes Gertler: Dutch art historian and collector
• David H Gertler: American writer, director and producer
• Yehuda Gertler: Hungarian-born Israeli theologian and Torah scholar
• Chaim Gertler: Polish-born Israeli chess grandmaster
• Harry Gertler: American rabbi and leader in Conservative Judaism
• Jessie Gertler: Jewish educator at the Teacher’s College of the Jewish Theological Seminary
• Max Gertler: German-born Dutch architect
• Israel Gertler: German-born Czech Jewish religious scholar
• Yeshayah Gertler: Israeli Talmudic nationalist
• Benjamin Gertler: American physical chemist
• Sophie Gertler: German painter from the 19th century
• Dan Gertler: Controversial Israeli businessman listed on the United Nations’ Database of Arms and Military Technology Transfer
• Gotthold Gertler: Austrian lumber merchant

Other surnames

GaalGaalayGaalenGaaleyGaalyGaarmannGabbardGabberGabbertGabeGabehartGabelGäbelGabelbergerGabeleGäbeleGäbeleinGabelenzGabelerGäbelerGabellGabelmannGabelsbergerGabeltGäbeltGabeneschGabenischGabenneschGaberle