Surname Geerts - Meaning and Origin
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Geerts: What does the surname Geerts mean?
Geerts is a Dutch patronymic surname derived from the given name Gerard, which is in turn derived from the Germanic name Gerhard, meaning “brave with a spear.” It is a popular surname in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and other countries where Germanic languages are spoken.
The surname is likely to have been an occupational name for a spear maker or a soldier in ancient times. However, some believe it was derived from a pre-7th century personal name Geren, which is itself derived from the word Gara meaning "forest."
The Dutch name Geerts is found in records for people living in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany dating from the 1600s. It has also been adopted as a given name in some places and is increasingly becoming more popular in the English-speaking world.
In the present day, people of the Geerts name are found throughout the world, but particularly in lower Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. Typically Dutch-speaking, they have been known to adopt the cultural traditions and practices of those countries.
Whether it is a surname derived from an occupational title, a pre-7th century personal name, or a popular name in the English-speaking world, the Geerts name continues to grow in popularity and spread throughout the world. It has become a well-known surname, and those who bear it are proud of their heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisGeerts: Where does the name Geerts come from?
The last name Geerts is primarily found in the Netherlands and Belgium. It is one of the most common surnames in Belgium. According to theformer Belgian census, Geerts was the 105th most common surname in the country, with over 60,000 people bearing it. In the Netherlands, it is the 90th most common last name, accounting for around 50,000 people. The name is especially popular in the provinces of Limburg and Flanders.
In the United States, the surname Geerts is relatively uncommon, but it is still found in a few places, primarily in the Midwest region. In the 2000 United States Census, the Geerts surname was most commonly found in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Aside from the US, the name is also found in countries such as Canada, Colombia, Germany, and Denmark.
The surname Geerts is derived from the given name Geert [or Gerrit], which was a form of the name Gerhard. As such, people bearing the surname Geerts can trace their ancestry back to Dutch, German, and other Germanic regions.
Variations of the surname Geerts
Geerts is an old Dutch variant of the surname Gerts, which has its origin in the personal name Gerard which is of Germanic origin, derived from 'ger' (spear) and 'hard' (brave). The spelling variants include Gerards, Gerts, Geerds, Geers, Geerts, Gerret, Gerats, and Jansens. This surname is common in Dutch and Belgian cultures and can also be found in Germany, Denmark, and Serbia.
Surnames with variants of the same origin include Gerard, Garrard, Garret, Garretson, Geary, Gärtner, Gartner, Geerdes, Geerdts, Geerling, Geers, Geeslin, Gehres, Gerdes, Gerets, Geretz, Gerlach, Germann, Gerrits, Gerritse, Gers, Gersen, Gersens, Gerth, Hartvigsen.
The German form of the name is Gerhard and other spellings include Gerrard, Gerhard, Gerhardt, Gerricke, Gerridgewill, Gershwine, Clare, Clarrington, Glare, Glarrett, Glee, Grearson, Gree, and Greer.
In the Low Countries, it can also be found as Gerads, Geraerts, Gerards, Jerards, Gerats and Erdts. In Serbia, it is sometimes contracted to Gers (Gerš). Similarly in France and Northern Italy, the name has spawned a number of family names including Gerard, Garrard, Garea, Garras, Gerardin, Gerardeau, Gerrardin, Garrardet, Gerardenot, Gery, Geras, Gary, Jera, and Garaud.
Geerts is also a popular surname in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Northern Germany. Today, the Geerts surname can be found in the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Serbia, France, and Northern Italy.
Famous people with the name Geerts
- Gert Geerts: Former Belgian professional cyclist and World Cycling Champion.
- Abraham Cornelis Geerts: Former Dutch industrialist and co-founder of the Carborundum Company, a major manufacturer of abrasives.
- Willem Geerts: Former Dutch television presenter, best known for hosting the game show “Superrommel”.
- Wilfried Geerts: Dutch professional footballer.
- Luc Geerts: Belgian film and stage actor.
- Henri Geerts: Belgian sculptor and painter.
- Johann Wilhelm Geerts: 19th century Dutch physicist.
- Jan Geerts: Former Dutch skater and gold medalist in the 1965 World Figure Skating Championships.
- Maria Geerts: Dutch television host and actress.
- Frits Geerts: Netherlands-based sculptor.