Message: "Origin or Help with the name Geiselheart"

Origin or Help with the name Geiselheart

by John Wrightson (guest)

5/9/2005, 3:13 AM

I am tracing the origin of Geiselheart. I have recently come across a Wrightson with the name Gilbert Geiselheart Wrightson born 1893 in the North East of England. I believe this name to be Norwegian as he had a brother called Thor Wrightson. Is this a surname or christian name? Any help much appreciated

regards John

Replies

- Ylva (guest) +1

5/10/2005, 4:41 AM

I don't think Geiselheart is Norwegian. The nearest Norwegian name I can think of is Geir. Geir is an old Norse name from the Vikings' time and means "spear".

- Andy ;—) (guest)

5/10/2005, 6:27 AM

GEISEL and GEIR

In fact the two words are related: The Germanic word for "spear" was "gaiza", later it turned to "ger", "geir" in Old Norse.

- Andy ;—) (guest)

5/10/2005, 12:08 AM

I'm not quite sure what you are tracing. The etymology of the name GEISELHEART? That of the (sur)name Wrightson? Or your roots? Or someone else's?

In case you want to know more about the origin of the name GEISELHEART:
I haven't come across this form. GEISEL looks German to me, I don't know about Norwegian, you'll have to ask someone like Satu. HEART appears to be English, not German; maybe it's something else. The combination is interesting.

Unlike on this site (and most books I've seen) it seems like the GEISEL/GISEL part does not mean "pledge", but is taken from the Germanic root GISA/GISLA meaning "spear". The two may be related though.

HEART obviously is the element HARDU ("strong, brave") and has nothing to do with the English „heart“.

If you are interested in more details about GEISEL/GISEL, let me know, I can provide further information.

Andy ;—)

- Daividh (guest)

5/9/2005, 5:42 PM

John,

You wouldn't happen to be kin to Don Wrightson (wife Ann) in Fife, would you?

Dave

- Chrisell +1

5/9/2005, 4:05 AM

I would venture the suggestion that it's composed of the Germanic elements gisel meaning "pledge" or "hostage" (as seen in Giselle) and hard meaning "brave" or "hardy" (as seen in Eberhard and Hartmann).

♦ Chrisell ♦

All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. - J.R.R. Tolkien.

- Miranda (Randee15)

5/9/2005, 12:26 PM

I would offer up Germanic hart "hardy"/"brave". Maybe heart is the Old English form of hart?

Miranda
"...his fingers trailing over your belly, your thighs quacking..." — From a The Lord of the Rings crapfic

Proud adopter of 15 punctuation marks.

View Message

Replies