The Giese surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 6,553 people carried this name — #5,319 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 45,000 people counted. About the same as in 2000 (6,574).

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What the name means

The meaning of the Giese surname

German, Dutch and Danish surname, from a short form of the personal name Gieselbert (see Gilbert) or related Germanic names such as Giesel, where the first element means "pledge, hostage." Compare Giesey.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Giese» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

160 people named Giese live in Switzerland.

They live in 11 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Zurich.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they live today

Zurich 32
Basel-Landschaft 30
Bern 29
Aargau 18
St. Gallen 17
Lucerne 10
Basel-Stadt 9
Neuchâtel 5

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In Poland’s population register

129 people named Giese have a registered home in Poland.

Of the 185 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 7 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Greater Poland.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Greater Poland 50
Kuyavian-Pomeranian 34
Silesian 15
West Pomeranian 11
Lower Silesian 7
Pomeranian 7
Warmian-Masurian 5

PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 36 people named Giese.

10 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 11 départements, most often Moselle.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 10
Moselle 10
Hauts-de-Seine 3
Gironde 3
Paris 2
Haute-Saône 2
Yvelines 1
Hautes-Pyrénées 1
Pyrénées-Atlantiques 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the Nordic population registers

60 people named Giese is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 60

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In print

Giese in American newspapers,
1899.

Newspaper page from Nebraska Staats-anzeiger carrying the name Giese
Nebraska Staats-anzeiger 1899-11-23
Newspaper page from Grand Island Anzeiger Und Herold carrying the name Giese
Grand Island Anzeiger Und Herold 1899-11-17
Newspaper page from Illinois Staats-zeitung carrying the name Giese
Illinois Staats-zeitung 1899-11-08

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 16,152 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Giese in Australian newspapers,
1860s–1980s.

2,349 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Giese. The most, 536, date from the 1940s. Western Australia has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in the Northern Territory, at 48.6 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Western Australia 829
New South Wales 713
Queensland 268
Northern Territory 252
Victoria 116
South Australia 82
ACT (Canberra) 67
Tasmania 15

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Giese.

Who carried it

People named Giese,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Tiedemann Giese
    Tiedemann Giese 1480–1550 · Catholic priest
  • Tiedemann Giese
    Tiedemann Giese 1480–1550 · Catholic priest
  • Georg Giese
    Georg Giese 1497–1562 · merchant
  • Albert Giese d. 1499 · mayor
  • Michael Giese d. 1596 · secretary
  • Frederick D. Giese d. 1957 · art dealer

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Giese,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,739 records

1,739 records of the Giese name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 1,128
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 204
  • Other U.S. records 407
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Thomas D. Giese

    Born 1917 in California. Enlisted 1940 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri; baker. U.S. Air Force veteran of World War II; died 1991, buried at Riverside National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Hedwig Giese

    Arrived at New York in 1904 aboard the Blucher from Hamburg, aged 24; house maid. From Berlin, Germany; bound for Washington.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Michael Everett Giese

    Born 1949; from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. U.S. Army, infantryman; killed in action 1971 in Quang Tri, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 1,739 records for Giese in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Germany1,828 records

1,828 records of the Giese name in Germany
  • Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919 1,803
  • German emigration and citizenship files 23
  • German estate files 2
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Karl Giese

    Born 1897; from Reinickendorf, Niederbarnim. Reported missing in the Prussian casualty list of 12 February 1919 (Infantry Regiment No. 48).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Jakob Friedrich Giese

    Emigrated to Metzingen, Württemberg in 1844; wheelwright.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg (CC0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Heinrich Friedrich Giese

    Estate settled at Bohnrade in 1884; of independent means.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Landesarchiv Schleswig-Holstein (CC0)

Showing 3 of 1,828 records for Giese in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0) · Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0); Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Netherlands402 records

402 records of the Giese name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 195
  • Dutch population registers 154
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 53
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Johanna Catharina Dorothea Giese

    Married in 1901 in 's-Gravenhage; cleaning woman. Died 1961 in Velp, aged 84.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Romanus Franciscus Laurentius Giese

    Born 1887 in Zwolle. Married in 1927 in Zwolle; postman.

    Open Archives, Collectie Overijssel locatie Zwolle (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Anna Antonia Giese

    Married in 1931 in Tilburg. Died 1970 in Tilburg.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 402 records for Giese in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Australia84 records

84 records of the Giese name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 44
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 21
  • Other Australian records 19
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Hy G. Giese

    Arrived in Victoria in 1886 aboard the John Elder, aged 24; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Peter Giese

    Storekeeper of Korweinguboora, Victoria; died 1900.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record George Giese

    Of Eastern Creek, New South Wales; died 1917.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)

Showing 3 of 84 records for Giese in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

France17 records

17 records of the Giese name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Jeanne Marie Giese

    Born 1931 in Petite-Rosselle; died 1993 in Stiring-Wendel (Moselle).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Pierre Paul Giese

    Born 1899 in Sarrebourg (Moselle); died 1971 in Mulhouse (Haut-Rhin).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Helga Marianne Giese

    Born 1949 in Germany; died 1997 in Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 17 records for Giese in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Canada6 records

6 records of the Giese name in Canada
  • City of Winnipeg cemetery records 3
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 2
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 1
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Robert Elmer Giese

    Buried in 1985 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 50.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Gustav Giese

    Died 1973, aged 85; buried at Transcona Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.

Showing 2 of 6 records for Giese in Canada.

Counts: City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

New Zealand1 record

1 record of the Giese name in New Zealand Marlborough District cemetery records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Linda Raewyn Giese

    Died 1992, aged 41; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Norway1 record

1 record of the Giese name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Grethen Giese

    Census of 1910: Øvre Storgate, Drammen; born 1887 in Germany.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Giese.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Giese is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Giese volume
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