Geiger Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Geiger last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the Geiger last name
Meaning of the Geiger last name: fiddle player. Geiger is an occupational name for a fiddler, from Middle High German gīgære, "player of the gīge", a stringed instrument. It is the southern counterpart of the eastern Fiedler, and is most common in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Switzerland. Many Swiss and Palatine Geigers emigrated to Pennsylvania in the 18th century. The physicist Hans Geiger, born in Neustadt an der Haardt, gave his name to the Geiger counter. The gīge was a medieval bowed instrument, and the word survives in modern German Geige, "violin". Village musicians played at weddings, church festivals and markets, and the trade was often handed down in families. The name is also found in Austria and Alsace. The variant Giger is typical of Switzerland. The name was also taken to Texas and the Midwest in the 19th century.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Geiger name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Geiger name in Germany. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Switzerland and Austria; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Geiger name FAQ
What does the Geiger name mean?
Fiddle player. Common variants include Geyger, Geigner, Giger.
Where does the Geiger surname come from?
It originates in Germany, and is also found in the United States, Switzerland and Austria.
Is there a Geiger coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Geiger crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Geiger coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Duden Familiennamen; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).