One of my ancestors had the last name Geras. This certainly doesn't sound like a Polish name. My family believes that the name originates from an ancestor that might have moved from Lithuania to Poland. This could have happened during 1800s but I'm not sure.
GERAS: probably short for Gerasym, the Ukrainian equivalent of the first name Harasim or Harasym; the Lithuanian conenction cannot be ruled out since nearly all Lithuanian surnames end in -s.
IRA: probably from ir or irzyk (also jurzyk, jerzyk), archaic term for a bird of the sparrow family
GIERASIMOWICZ and Harasymowicz (and probably a few other variants) exist in today's Poland. You only gave Geras, and that was all I had to go on. Obviously the -wicz ending is of patronymic origin and means 'son of Gierasim'. The G version defintiely indicates eastern (Russian, Urkainian, Belarussian) origin.
I know this is an old thread but my last name is Geras. My Grandfather's family left Russia in 1907 and came to the USA. When they arrived the name was shortened from "Gerasimenko". According to different documents I have, my family lived in an Oblast near the border of the Ukraine and Belarus.
Geras is a Greek word that means "noble elder". Geras was also the Greek God of old age. I think it is possible that Geras' came from Greece to Eastern Europe at some point in the 1800's, but I haven't done enough research into that to be sure yet.
Hope that helps some. If you want to email me you can at Geras.Catherine (at) gmail and we can trade other information.
GERAS/GIERAS: This surname is probably derived from the old Polish first name Gerwazy (English: Jarvis). St Gervasius was a 1st-century bishop of Milan, who died a marytr's death along with his twin brother Protasius (Protazy in Polish).
they arrived the name was shortened from "Gerasimenko"
-ko and -enko are the typical Ukrainian last names endings like in: Klitschko, Shevchenko, Voronenko etc. The fact that you said they arrived from the oblast close to the Ukrainian-Belorus border supports the hypothesis. Do you know what oblast?
The -ko ending is not only Ukrainian but All-Ruthenian including Belarusian. Kościuszko had no links to Ukraine but grew up in a Polish-Lithuanian-Belarusian envrionment. The name is an endearing form of Konstanty comparable to the English Connie.
I know. Too old thread but let me contribute. The family Giera and it's variances like GERAS, Gera and Guiera are found in south of Brazil. In 1878 arrived in São José dos Pinhais, Brazil from Poland, Szymon Giera wich name was written as Simão Geras. His descendents have their surname written in a wrong way like Geras, Giera, Guiera and Guerra wich means War in Portuguese.
My mother's maiden name is Geary. Her family lived in West Hazleton, PA. It is said that the Giera's comes from Poland. However, I have not been able to find out any information regarding where in Poland. In researching, I have found the surname listed as Geary, Giera, Gera, Geras. My mom did a DNA test and she is 59% Eastern European/Russian and 49% Baltic States.
Any information is much appreciated! Thank you, Alexis
