Geier History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Etymology of Geier

What does the name Geier mean?

The surname Geier is a nickname surname; that is, it is derived from a nickname given to the original bearer. A broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, nickname surnames referred to a characteristic of the first person who used the name. They can describe the bearer's favored style of clothing, appearance, habits, or character. Often nicknames described strong traits or attributes that people wished to emulate in a specific animal. In the pre-Christian era, many pagan gods and demi-gods were believed to be a mixture of animals and humans, such as the Greek god Pan who was the god of flocks and herds and was represented as a man with the legs, horns and ears of a goat. In the Middle Ages, anthropomorphic ideas, which attributed human qualities and form to gods or animals, were held about the characters of other living creatures. They were based on the creature's habits. Moreover, these associations were reflected in folk tales, mythology, and legends which portrayed animals behaving as humans. The surname Geier is derived from the Old German word "gir," which means "vulture." It was given to a person known for greedy, predatory ways.

Early Origins of the Geier family

The surname Geier was first found in Padeborn, in the ancient duchy of Saxony, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. As early as 1288 Johann Gyr appears in mediaeval feudal documents as county ruler in Warburg. As old as these documents may be, the name is also associated with families of ancient nobility in Austria and Franconia (later Hessen). Always prominent in social affairs, the name Geyer became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation.

Early History of the Geier family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Geier research. Another 185 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1490, 1525, 1665, 1685 and 1743 are included under the topic Early Geier History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Geier Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Geier, Geyer, Gayer, Gaier, Gire, Gyre, Geyre, Gayre, Geyr and many more.

Early Notables of the Geier family

Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Geier Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Geier Ranking

In the United States, the name Geier is the 8,930^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Geier migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Geier Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Anna Marie Geier, who landed in Frederick County, Maryland in 1715 2
Henrich Geier, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1731 2
Sarah Geier, aged 16, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1731 2
Johannes Geier, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1736 2
Wolf Casper Geier, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1749 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Geier Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mr. Andreas Geier, aged 44, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Louise"
Maria Geier, aged 35, who arrived in New York in 1854 2
Anna Geier, aged 21, who arrived in New York in 1854 2
Georg Geier, aged 33, who arrived in New York in 1854 2
Eva Geier, who landed in New York in 1854 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Geier migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Geier Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Caroline Geier, aged 28, who arrived in South Australia in 1847 aboard the ship "Hermann von Beckerath" 3
Christina Geier, aged 22, who arrived in South Australia in 1847 aboard the ship "Hermann von Beckerath" 3
Louise Geier, aged 19, who arrived in South Australia in 1847 aboard the ship "Hermann von Beckerath" 3
Wilhelm Geier, aged 21, who arrived in South Australia in 1847 aboard the ship "Hermann von Beckerath" 3
Johann Gottfried Geier, aged 64, a farmer, who arrived in South Australia in 1848 aboard the ship "Alfred" 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Geier (post 1700) +

Frederick V. Geier, American founder of the Cincinnati Milling Machine Company, an American machine tool builder in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1889
Philip H. Geier Jr., American businessman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Interpublic Group of Companies from 1980 to 2000
Philip Louis "Phil" Geier (1876-1967), American Major League Baseball outfielder who played from 1896 to 1904
John G. Geier (1934-2009), American psychologist and inventor of the DISC assessment systems
Woodrow Geier (b. 1914), American prominent journalist and professor in Tennessee
Jens Geier (b. 1961), German politician, MEP for the Social Democratic Party of Germany since 2009
Sofia Landon Geier (b. 1949), Canadian Writers Guild of America Award winning and Daytime Emmy Award nominated television soap opera writer and actress, known for her work on Another World, As the World Turns and Days of Our Lives
Oscar Arnold Geier (1882-1942), Swiss silver medalist bobsledder at the 1932 Winter Olympics

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HERMANN VON BECKERATH 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847HermanVonBeckerath.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ALFRED 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848Alfred.htm