Surname Germanow - Meaning and Origin
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Germanow: What does the surname Germanow mean?
The surname Germanow is of Jewish origin and is believed to derive from the German word ‘german’, meaning ‘stranger’ or ‘foreigner’. It may originally have been used as a nickname for a Jewish family who had recently moved from Germany to a new country or location.
The exact origin of the name is uncertain, and has been variously recorded as being from both German and Russian sources. In some cases, the surname may also be connected with the German given name ‘Gerberman’ or the Russian patronymic name ‘Germakov’.
Given its background, it is unsurprising that the surname Germanow is particularly associated with the Jewish diaspora of the 19th and 20th centuries. During this period, millions of Jews were forced to flee persecution in Russia, Germany and other parts of Europe, leading to dispersal of the Jewish population throughout the world.
The surname itself is now found in countries across the world, many of which have seen significant Jewish emigration, including the USA, Australia, Israel, the UK and Canada. In such places, the immigrant history of the Germanow family is likely to be remembered through family records, stories and artifacts.
Overall, the surname Germanow not only has a rich and varied historical background but also stands as a powerful reminder of the legacy of the Jewish diaspora in the modern world.
Order DNA origin analysisGermanow: Where does the name Germanow come from?
The last name Germanow is believed to have a German origin, possibly originating in the early 1800’s. Today, Germanow is most commonly found in Poland, with other variants such as Giermanow being found in Poland and Russia. Germanow has spread to other countries including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, South Africa, and Australia.
In the United States, the first Germanow families to arrive can be traced to Pennsylvania, where the surname is particularly common in that part of the country.The last name also appears prominently in several states across the Northeast and Midwest such as Connecticut, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, and New York.
As smaller communities and their families dispersed throughout America, Germanow eventually became found in other parts of the country like Arizona, California, Nevada, and Washington. The highest concentrations of Germanow families are in Pennsylvania, California, Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas, and Oregon. Today, the last name Germanow is scattered and largely dispersed around the world. Though the family may have been German-based, the last name is found in many other countries across the globe.
Variations of the surname Germanow
The surname Germanow is an Ashkenazic Jewish origin surname, mainly associated with Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Germany, Latvia, and the United States. Variations in spelling include Germanev, Germaniv, Germanoff, Germanof, Germonoff, and Germonov. Alternate spellings and variants of the surname include Germans, Garmonow, Garmonov, Garmonoff, Garmonovski, Garmonovskii, Gmonov, Germonovski, and Gernmonov.
Other surnames that are closely related to Germanow from a family tree perspective include Garmonov, Germanoff, Germanif, Germaniv, Germanof, Geramoff, Karmonoff, Garmonow, Garmonovski, Garmonovskii, Garmonoff, Gmonov, Germonovski, Gernmonov, and Germans.
These surnames come from variations of the same linguistic root and all relate to the original surname of Germanow. This is the most widely used name in countries like Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Germany, and Latvia. It is also a common surname in the United States.
The Germanow surname is derived from the Germanic word “garmon”, meaning 'guarding", and "ov" or "off", qualifying the suffix of the root. It also denotes son of, or belonging to the guard, and according to some sources may refer to a guard of a royal court, or a private guard, working for a particular family.
Some possible variant spellings are Germanoff, Germanof, Germonoff, Germonov and Garmonov. In some instances, such as in Ukraine and Russia, the names Germanoff and Garmonov appear to be interchangeable.
The source of the Germanow surname is frequently disputed, though some have suggested that it is of Germanic or Slavic origin. However, the most likely origin of the name is Jewish, from countries such as Poland, Belarus and Ukraine.
Famous people with the name Germanow
- Steven J Germanow: A three time Emmy-winning television producer. He co-created the television show Scandal and has worked on projects including The West Wing, Outcast, and Desperate Housewives.
- Etan Germanow: An American mathematician best known for work related to Bayesian networks. He is currently a professor at Cornell University.
- Arnold Germanow: A prominent attorney who has ranked among the top 50 securities lawyers in the United States.
- Max Germanow: A Canadian film producer and executive producer. He has been involved in the production of movies such as Resident Evil: Apocalypse and Chronicles of the Raven.
- John Germanow, Jr.: A professor at Rochester Institute of Technology. He has authored books including Introduction to Digital Programming and System Analysis and Design: A Structured Approach.
- Martin Germanow: An American entrepreneur and philanthropist who has co-founded multiple technology and health care companies.
- Matthew Germanow: A former member of the United Nations Security Council. He was also the United Nations Special Representative to Iraq.
- Judy Germanow: A jazz singer and producer who has been featured at clubs and festivals across the world. She has also released two solo albums.
- Paul Germanow: An American screenwriter who has written scripts for the television series Transparent and UnREAL.
- Catherine Germanow: A professional ballet dancer and actress. She has been featured on Broadway and starred in popular television shows like Glee.