Last Name Gessen

Learn more about the origin of the last name Gessen

The meaning and origin of the last name Gessen

The surname Gessen is a German-Jewish name that is derived from a geographical location. It originated from the town of Geisen in Hesse, Germany. Over time, various spelling variations have emerged due to differences in transliteration and transcription, such as Geisin, Geissen, and Gessin, among others. The family name Gessen was most notably associated with a prominent Jewish intellectual family in Russia and later the United States, including Klara and Alexander Gessen, who were prominent figures in the Russian Revolution and later immigrated to the U.S. where they continued their work as authors, journalists, and political activists. The surname Gessen remains relatively rare but is found primarily among Ashkenazi Jews of German and Eastern European descent.

Geographical distribution of the last name Gessen

The last name Gessen is predominantly of Jewish German and Russian origin. According to genealogical databases, a significant number of people with the surname Gessen are found primarily in Germany, Russia, and the United States. In Germany, it is most common in the regions of Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Bavaria, reflecting its historical roots. In Russia, concentrations can be seen in areas with a significant Jewish population, such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Odessa. The migration of individuals with the surname Gessen to the United States, particularly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, has led to a substantial presence in urban centers such as New York City and Chicago. Today, variations of the name can be found globally among descendants of these communities.

Variants and spellings of the last name Gessen

The surname Gessen has several variations and spellings across different regions and languages. Some common variations include:

1. Gesens - A Dutch variant
2. Geßen - A German spelling, which translates to 'mounds' in English
3. Gezen - A shorter form, possibly originating from a misspelling or abbreviation of the original name
4. Gezan - Another shortened version, potentially arising from an attempt to phonetically represent the name
5. Gessin - A less common variation, which may be a typographical error or regional adaptation
6. Gisson - An English spelling that slightly modifies the pronunciation of the original name
7. Gezyn - A possible misspelling or variant, often found in genealogy records.

These variations and spellings highlight the flexibility and adaptability of names over time and space, as well as the potential for errors or changes during migration and documentation.

Famous people with the last name Gessen

Anna Gessen and Masha Gessen are notable individuals with the surname Gessen. Anna Gessen, born in 1938, is an American author and translator, best known for her works translating literature from Russian into English, including Fyodor Dostoevsky's "The Brothers Karamazov" and Ivan Turgenev's "Fathers and Sons". Masha Gessen, born in 1967, is a Russian-American journalist, author, and activist. She has won numerous awards for her writings on Russia, LGBT rights, and human rights issues. Notably, she is the author of "The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin" and "Surviving Autocracy". Both Anna and Masha have made significant contributions to literature and journalism, respectively.

Genealogical research on the last name Gessen

The surname Gessen is primarily associated with Jewish families from Eastern Europe, particularly Germany, Poland, and Russia. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name was Hans Gessin, who lived in Esslingen am Neckar, Germany during the late Middle Ages. Over time, variations like Geisen, Geisin, and Gessen emerged due to spelling differences and regional dialects.

The Gessen family is known to have migrated from Germany to Russia in the 18th century, where they settled primarily in the Pale of Settlement, a region of Imperial Russia that was designated for Jewish residency. Famous figures with this surname include Karl Gessert, a German artist, and Irving Howe, an American literary critic and historian of Jewish origin.

In the 20th century, many Gessen family members emigrated due to religious persecution and economic hardship, with significant populations settling in the United States and Israel. The name has since diversified geographically, but its roots remain firmly entrenched in European Jewish history.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "Gessen"
• Global distribution of the surname on Forebears.io
• Wikipedia Article

About the author :

NomOrigine Team
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated : 28 July 2025