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

Geiss, 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 Geiss surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Geiss in America

Geiss is the 21672nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Geiss surname appeared 1,202 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Geiss.

We can also compare 2010 data for Geiss 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 Geiss

The surname "GEISS" has its origins in Germany, with the earliest known records dating back to the 12th century. The name is believed to have derived from the German word "Geiss," which translates to "goat." This suggests that the name might have initially been given as a nickname or occupational name to someone who herded or raised goats.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, where a person named "Conradus Geize" is mentioned in the year 1194. This early spelling variation, "Geize," further supports the theory of its connection to the word "Geiss" or "goat."

In the 13th century, the name appears in various German regions, including Bavaria and Swabia. For example, in 1290, a record from the city of Augsburg mentions a "Heinricus Geizze," while in 1295, a document from the town of Ulm refers to a "Conradus Geysse."

The Geiss surname is also found in some historical records related to noble families in Germany. In the late 14th century, a knight named "Hans von Geiss" is mentioned in the chronicles of the city of Nuremberg. He played a significant role in the conflicts between the city and the Margraviate of Brandenburg-Ansbach.

In the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname Geiss was Jodocus Geiss (1521-1592), a German theologian and Protestant reformer who served as a professor at the University of Wittenberg and was a close associate of Martin Luther.

Another prominent individual was Johann Geiss (1635-1679), a German composer and organist who was active in the city of Dresden during the Baroque period.

In the 18th century, Johann Georg Geiss (1737-1808) was a German painter and engraver known for his landscapes and architectural representations.

Moving to the 19th century, Wilhelm Geiss (1841-1903) was a German politician and member of the Reichstag (German Parliament), representing the Social Democratic Party.

While the surname Geiss has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. However, the historical records and references mentioned above highlight the name's long-standing presence and significance in various regions of Germany over several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Geiss

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

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 Geiss 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 Geiss 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 Geiss was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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