Gieger History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Germany

Etymology of Gieger

The surname Gieger is a German occupational surname that evolved in the region known as the Rhineland. Germans at first used only one name, but population growth and increased travel in medieval times caused confusion between people of the same name, forcing the people to adopt hereditary surnames. These names often identified people by the kind of work they did. Gieger is a name for a musician or a person who played the violin. The name Gieger is derived from the Old German word "gigaere," which means "violinist" or "fiddle player."

Early Origins of the Gieger family

Early History of the Gieger family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gieger research. Another 134 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1775 and 1789 are included under the topic Early Gieger History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gieger Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Gieger include Geiger, Geige, Geyger, Gieger, Geygher, Geigher and many more.

Early Notables of the Gieger family

More information is included under the topic Early Gieger Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Gieger family

Between the 17th and 20th centuries, hundreds of thousands of Europeans came to North America, and many Rhinelanders were among them. They had many various reasons for making the choice: to escape poverty and persecution, for adventure, and for the opportunity to own their own land. Ellis Island, one of the main American immigration centers, saw many settlers as they moved on to the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, and New York. In Canada, they found homes in Ontario, and on the great plains of the Midwestern provinces. The Gieger were among of the early German families that came to North America: Hans Jergen Geiger, who came to Pennsylvania, with his wife and three children in 1727; Johann Adam Geiger came to Philadelphia in 1752. According to immigration records there were many Geigers, who almost without exception settled in Philadelphia or Pennsylvania..