Find out how popular the last name Geis is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Geis.

Geis, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Geis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Geis in America

Geis is the 9692nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Geis surname appeared 3,347 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Geis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Geis to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Geis

The surname GEIS is believed to have originated in Germany, with roots that can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Old German word "geis," which means "goat" or "goatherd." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who worked as a goatherd or lived in an area known for its abundance of goats.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GEIS can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of historical documents from the Duchy of Silesia, which dates back to the 13th century. In this collection, the name appears as "Geyss," a variation of the modern spelling.

During the 14th century, the name GEIS was also mentioned in the Regesta Imperii, a series of documents related to the Holy Roman Empire. This reference suggests that individuals bearing this surname may have held positions of importance or influence within the empire.

In the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname GEIS was Matthias Geis (1515-1585), a German theologian and Lutheran reformer. He was a prominent figure in the Reformation movement and played a significant role in shaping the religious landscape of his time.

Another historical figure associated with the name GEIS was Johann Geis (1640-1704), a German composer and organist who lived during the Baroque period. He is known for his contributions to sacred and instrumental music, particularly his organ works.

In the 19th century, Johann Baptist von Geis (1813-1887) was a German Catholic priest and theologian. He held influential positions within the Church and was known for his writings on theological subjects.

The surname GEIS has also been linked to various place names throughout Germany, such as Geiselbach, Geislingen, and Geismar. These places may have served as the origins for families bearing this surname or may have been named after individuals with the surname GEIS.

While the surname GEIS is predominantly associated with Germany, it has also been found in other parts of Europe, suggesting that individuals bearing this name may have migrated or immigrated to different regions over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Geis

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Geis.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Geis was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Geis has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Geis was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Geis, please contact us.

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