Surname Saturday: Gersbacher, Gerspacher, Gerspach

The maps below show the absolute distribution and relative distribution (considering population density) of the surname variants Gersbacher, Gerspacher, and Gerspach in Germany. They were created using Christoph Stöpel's Geogen 3.0 surname mapping site, which uses data from German telephone directories.Geogen 4.0 is the latest version.

Absolute distribution (Gersbacher)

©Christoph Stöpel. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DE (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/de/deed.en). http://legacy.stoepel.net/de/MapGateway.aspx?name=Gersbacher&target=DE&renderer=EN_US&mode=abs

Relative distribution (Gersbacher)

©Christoph Stöpel. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DE (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/de/deed.en). http://legacy.stoepel.net/de/MapGateway.aspx?name=Gersbacher&target=DE&renderer=EN_US&mode=rel

 The maps show the highest concentration of the surname in Landkreis Lörrach.

Absolute distribution (Gerspacher)

©Christoph Stöpel. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DE (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/de/deed.en). http://legacy.stoepel.net/de/MapGateway.aspx?name=Gerspacher&target=DE&renderer=EN_US&mode=abs

Relative distribution (Gerspacher)

©Christoph Stöpel. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DE (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/de/deed.en). http://legacy.stoepel.net/de/MapGateway.aspx?name=Gerspacher&target=DE&renderer=EN_US&mode=rel

The maps show the highest concentration of the surname in Landkreis Lörrach. The next highest concentration of the surname is in Landkreis Waldshut.

Absolute distribution (Gerspach)

©Christoph Stöpel. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DE (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/de/deed.en). http://legacy.stoepel.net/de/MapGateway.aspx?name=Gerspach&target=DE&renderer=EN_US&mode=abs

Relative distribution (Gerspach)

©Christoph Stöpel. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DE (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/de/deed.en). http://legacy.stoepel.net/de/MapGateway.aspx?name=Gerspach&target=DE&renderer=EN_US&mode=rel

The maps show the highest concentration of the surname in Landkreis Waldshut. The next highest concentration of the surname is in Landkreis Lörrach.

These maps helped me to pinpoint the area of Baden that my Gersbacher/Gerspacher ancestors came from. I suspected that they were from Landkreis Lörrach or Landkreis Waldshut. When I identified the location, it turned out to be in Landkreis Waldshut.

My known Gersbacher/Gerspacher/Gerspach ancestors are:

great-grandmother: Paulina Gersbacher/Pauline Gerspacher
born 13 August 1876, Niederwihl, Waldshut, Baden, Germany.
married John (Johann) Schneider  23 July 1902, St. Louis, Missouri
died 1 December 1966, St. Louis, Missouri

2nd-great-grandfather: John Gersbacher/Johann Gerspacher
born 2 September 1843, Görwihl, Waldshut, Baden, Germany
married Kunigunde Dreier (my 2nd-great-grandmother) 16 February 1871
married Theresa Vollmer 26 March 1900, Belleville, St. Clair County, Illinois
died 8 February 1914, St. Louis, Missouri

3rd-great-grandfather: Fridolin Gerspacher
born 13 July 1809, Görwihl, Waldshut, Baden, Germany
married Maria Bär 14 November 1839, Görwihl, Waldshut, Baden, Germany
died 23 February 1865, Görwihl, Waldshut, Baden, Germany

4th-great-grandfather: Johann Gerspacher
born 29 October 1766, Görwihl, Waldshut, Baden, Germany
married Magdelena Bär (my 4th-great-grandmother) 25 October 1796, Görwihl, Waldshut, Baden, Germany
married Theresia Wassmer 27 November 1809, Görwihl, Waldshut, Baden, Germany
died 10 January 1841, Görwihl, Waldshut, Baden, Germany

5th-great-grandfather: Fridolin Gerspacher
born 28 May 1739, Strittmatt, Waldshut, Baden, Germany
married  Catharina Adler 13 January 1766, Görwihl, Waldshut, Baden, Germany

6th-great-grandfather: Joseph Gerspach
born 21 June 1701, Strittmatt, Waldshut, Baden, Germany
married Clara Schlageter 15 August 1734

7th-great-grandfather: Fridolin Gerspach
married Anna Schupp
died 23 May 1744, Strittmatt, Waldshut, Baden, Germany