Gerdes (or "Geerdes") (IPA [gæɹdəs]) is a surname of German origin. It is a patronymic name, ie. it comes from "son of Gerhard". When around 1800 the Prussian government under French occupation decided to fix the surnames, the contemporary "son of Gerhard" had to keep his name. In Ostfriesland, the law was ignored until at least 1811.[1]
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Origin
Ge(e)rdes is a patronymic derived from the name "Gerd", short for Gerard, meaning "hard spear", or from the Norse goddess Gerd (meaning "Gerd's protection"), wife of Freyr and protectress of the home yard and garden, from which she also derives her name as a personification of the garden/yard.[2]
People
- Herbert Gerdes, German director.
- Emily Gerdes, American actress.
- Hans-Peter Geerdes, lead singer of the German band Scooter.
- Eckhard Gerdes, American author.
External links
- Distribution in the US
- Distribution in Germany (in numbers)
- Distribution in Germany (relative to population)
References
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