Surname Kirchgeßler - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Kirchgeßler: What does the surname Kirchgeßler mean?
The surname Kirchgeßler is an Old German name which means “church keeper”, and is derived from the German word “kirche” meaning “church”, combined with the word “geßler”, meaning “keeper”. It was used as a patronymic surname by people who worked as custodians for a church, or perhaps simply for people who lived in or near it.
The earliest known form of the name is recorded in land charters dating back to 1242, when a Seppone vowel in the suffix was appended to the “Kirchgeßler” surname. It is the earliest recorded example of this occupational surname in Germany.
The spelling of the name has changed over time, with variants popping up all across Germany, the Netherlands, and many other parts of Europe. In particular, the most common forms of the name are Kirchgessner, Kirchgeßner, Kur, Kirchgessler and Kirchgeßler, with sparser examples including Kerchges54, Kirckhäuser, Kirchhayser, and Kirschhauser.
The origin of the surname likely stems from the Latin word “gather”, which in turn comes from a Roman occupation. As with most Old German surnames, the name functioned as a way to identify and distinguish people, and has been used through the centuries to do just that.
Today, the surname is still seen throughout the countries of Europe, primarily in Germany. Citizens of Germany who have the Kirchgeßler surname can trace their heritage to this one source, and proudly share their unique history to others.
Order DNA origin analysisKirchgeßler: Where does the name Kirchgeßler come from?
The last name Kirchgeßler is most commonly found today in Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland. It’s likely that many of the people with this name can trace their roots to these countries as it’s one of the more traditional German surnames.
The name can be traced back to a geographical origin, as Kirchgeßler is derived from the German word “Kirchgeß”, which translates to “churchyard”. A churchyard would have been a common sight in Germany centuries ago, and it is likely that this is why it has become a common surname today. The name was most likely adopted by people who lived near a churchyard or who may have even worked in it.
The name Kirchgeßler can also mean “follower of the church”. This could be interpreted to represent someone who was particularly pious or deeply religious, and was associated to the local church. This could have been, and could still be, the source of the surname today.
As a result of the large population of Germanic people spreading across the world over the centuries, today there are people with the last name Kirchgeßler in other countries too. This includes countries in the Americas, such as the United States, Canada and Mexico. There are also people with this name in other parts of Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
Overall, the last name Kirchgeßler is most commonly found in Germanic countries but also has a significant presence in many other countries as a result of migration from Germany.
Variations of the surname Kirchgeßler
Kirchgeßler is an old German surname, originally derived from habitational families with the same name living in East Prussia. The spelling variants of Kirchgeßler could include Kirchgesseler, Kirchgeseler, Kirchgeseller or Kircheßler.
The surnames of the same origin as Kirchgeßler include Kirchgässler, Kirchgasseler, Kirchgäseler, and Kirchgässler. All of these surnames are derived from the old German habitational members of the name.
Kirchgäßler is the German spelling of the surname which is derived from the term 'Kirchgeß' which means the presence of a church close by or in a village or town. It was first used by families who lived in a village with a church.
Kirchgasseler is an anglicized spelling of Kirchgässler, comprised of an additional 'e'.
Kirchgäseler is a variant of the surname that is believed to have come from a Swiss-German variation. Kirchgässler is derived from the German word 'Kirche' meaning church or a place of worship.
Kirchgeßler is sometimes spelled with double 's' instead of a 'ß'. This surname could also be written as Kirchgesseler, Kirchgeseler, Kirchgeseller and Kircheßler.
These surnames can be found in independent locations across Germany and other countries. It is believed that Kirchgeßler originated in East Prussia and has spread to many countries, including the USA, Canada, South Africa and Australia.
Famous people with the name Kirchgeßler
- Markus Kirchgeßler: German footballer who currently plays for SV Darmstadt 98.
- Roy Kirchgeßler: American television producer who won two Emmy's as producer of the series "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air".
- Klaas Kirchgeßler: German photographer and videographer, best known for his documentation of the Techno movement in Europe.
- Manfred Kirchgeßler: German actor, painter and theatre director who won the German theatre award in 2005.
- Alicia Kirchgeßler: German actress known for starring in several television dramas and commercials.
- Dieter Kirchgeßler: German musician, composer and record producer, mostly active in the 1980s and 1990s.
- Reinhold Kirchgeßler: Austrian writer, best known for his book "Der Nachtrosenbaum" which won the Austrian Literary Prize in 1995.
- Esther Kirchgeßler: German singer, mostly known for her studio album "The Last Day of Summer".
- Ferdinand Kirchgeßler: German author and journalist, best known for his book "Das Fußballexperiment".
- Jakob Kirchgeßler: German sculptor, best known for his abstract bronze sculptures which have been exhibited in Germany and abroad.