Surname Gerndorf - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Gerndorf: What does the surname Gerndorf mean?
The surname Gerndorf is of German origin. It is a habitational surname derived from the name of a place in Germany. In Middle High German, the word “gerndorf” was used to refer to a field or pasture with a hill, dune or mound in the center. It was most likely used to describe a particular piece of land which was owned or inhabited by someone with the surname Gerndorf.
The earliest known record of the surname Gerndorf dates back to 1328 and refers to a certain Ibn Gerndorf, who was an agent and emissary of the Hanseatic League. This suggests that the original bearer of the name may have been engaged in business or some other kind of trade.
The surname Gerndorf is found mainly in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany. Due to Germany’s turbulent history, it may also be found in other parts of Europe, especially in the cities and towns to which waves of German migrants migrated over the centuries.
The name Gerndorf is likely to be seen as an honorable and distinguished one. It implies that the original bearer of the name was an important person, engaged in some kind of prestigious activity. It could also be seen as a symbol of permanent ties to a homeland, since the surname originates from a particular piece of land which was owned or inhabited by a family with that name.
Order DNA origin analysisGerndorf: Where does the name Gerndorf come from?
Gerndorf is a German surname that is common in many countries across the world today, as it was one of the many German surnames adapted by immigrants who left Germany in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
In North America, there are many Gerndorf households spread out across the United States and Canada, with the most concentration in the mid-western states and provinces. Many of these households are descended from German immigrants who settled states like Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and the Canadian province of Manitoba, although it is likely there are many more living in areas like Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario.
In Europe, the surname is more heavily concentrated in Germany, where many of the original Gerndorf families stayed, as well as Austria, and other countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Many of these German-speaking households likely have descendants of the original Gerndorf families.
There are also Gerndorf households in other parts of the world, like South America, Africa, and Australia, spread throughout by immigrants who settled in different countries as they made their way around the world.
Overall, the surname Gerndorf is fairly common today, with households in many different countries in all parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Gerndorf
Gerndorf is a geographic German surname, derived from the words 'Gerne-Dorf', which literally translates to 'the village that people like'. It is an old German surname, that can be traced back to the Middle Ages, and can be found in various areas in Germany, as well as in other countries including the United States and the United Kingdom.
Some of the variants and spellings of this last name include:
Gerndorff, Gerndorf, Gerntorf, Gernetorff, GerneTorg, GernDorff, GernDorf, Garnetorff, GarnTorg, GernTorgf, and GernTorg.
In the United States countries, Gerndorf is sometimes spelled Gernetraut.
Surnames of a similar origin include Gernt, Germuth, Germuth-Dill, Gerne and Gernert.
In older documents, this surname can also be attested in its Latinized form, Gerndorfius. It appears in records as early as the 1300s in nearby Austria, and some researchers believe that Gerndorf may have been derived from some of the Saxon tribes that originally dwelt there.
Gerndorf is also derived from the word 'Garnhe', a term used for a place of refuge, or a gathering site, which can also be a point of origin for the last name. The name can also be translated to 'the place where people gather', or 'the place that people favor.'
Today, the surname is widespread both in Germany as well as in some other countries that received German immigrants, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. In the US, it is the 2,685th-most-common name.
Famous people with the name Gerndorf
- Erika Gerndorf: an Estonian cyclist
- Daniela Gerndorf: a German novelist
- Bernd Gerndorf: a West German shot putter
- Julien Gerndorf: a French chess master
- Kenny Gerndorf: an American lacrosse player
- Paul Gerndorf: an Italian ballet dancer
- Oliver Gerndorf: an Austrian pianist
- Jane Gerndorf: a Dutch painter
- Elina Gerndorf: a Finnish poet
- Fanny Gerndorf: a Swiss actress