Surname Gais - Meaning and Origin
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Gais: What does the surname Gais mean?
The last name Gais is of German origin. It is derived from a Germanic language and is thought to come from the old German word " andresi," which is defined as an enclosure or a court yard. It is considered to be a habitational name, a name given to someone who lived at a specific location. This name is most commonly found in the regions of Northern Germany, especially in the areas of Rhineland-Palatinate, Dusseldorf and Saxony-Anhalt.
Gais is also a variation of the German last name Gaiswinkler, which refers to someone who works in a mill. In addition, it may also be a short form of the name Agatha, an old Germanic name meaning "good" or "noble".
The name Gais is not a common name, and is found in smaller numbers throughout Germany and other German-speaking countries. Those with the last name Gais are likely to be of German heritage, and their ancestry may have resided in the areas of Northern Germany for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisGais: Where does the name Gais come from?
Gais is a Swiss surname that is most common in Switzerland today. It originates from the small village of Gais, which is situated in Appenzell Ausserrhoden in east Switzerland. In 2015, it was estimated that 8.4% of the population of Switzerland were surnamed Gais.
Gais is also common in surrounding countries such as Germany, Austria and Italy. Database analysis of surnames has revealed that the surname Gais has a distinct pattern of occurrence, closely resembling a checkerboard in the greater regions of Southern Germany, Austria, and Northern Italy. This suggests that the origin of the surname spread from the original Swiss locality throughout these bordering regions.
The Gais surname has also been found in the United States. According to the US census of 2000, there were 127 people with the Gais surname living in the United States, all of whom were of German descent or had ancestry from German-speaking areas.
Overall, Gais is most commonly found in German-speaking countries and regions. This includes Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Italy, as well as enclaves in America settled by people of German descent.
Variations of the surname Gais
Gais is a surname of Germanic origin, most likely deriving from the German word “gau” meaning “area of jurisdiction”. The name was most likely taken on by someone who served as an official of some sort within such an area. It is sometimes spelled Gaul or Gail; its German variant is Gauß.
Gais is an uncommon name and as such, there are very few variations. Some of the most common variants of the name are Gáis, Gaiss, Gayes, Gaeß, Gayz, Gayzs, Gause and Gauß. However, the most well-known variant of the name is Gais.
In the United States, a few other surnames originating from the same root of Gais are Goss, Gowe or Gauwe. These are Dutch variations of the name that are thought to have been brought to America by Dutch settlers. In Poland, the surname Gawas is derived from Gais or the German name Gaus, while the names Gawęska and Gawęcki are also related.
In Germany, Gauß and Gaußen is another variant of the name arising from the same root. Other German surnames related to the name Gais include Gans, Gansauge and Gansen. There are also a few Danish and Swedish variants of the name, including Gauze, Gauksen, Gaas and Gas.
Famous people with the name Gais
- David Gais; is an American philanthropist, organizer, and the founding executive director of the Pittsburgh-based Three Rivers Community Foundation.
- Dave Gais; is a former Canadian footballer who played in the Canadian Football League from 1969 to 1974.
- Farah Gais; is an American photographer and visual artist, best known as the mastermind behind fashion campaigns that explore identity and culture.
- Mahdi Gais; is an Egyptian singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who has released four full-length albums.
- René Gais; is an Austrian ski jumping athlete who competed internationally for Austria.
- Maggie Gais; is an American singer and songwriter, known for her work in the band Wakey!Wakey! as well as her solo career.
- Wilfred Gais; is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1983 to 1999, with a career spanning 16 years and matches.
- Paul Gais; is a German-born American violinist, conductor, and composer.
- John Gais; is a Dutch professional racing cyclist.
- Costa Gais; is a Greek professional footballer who plays as a striker for Panachaiki F.C.