Submitted Name Revision History

The first element of this Germanic name comes from Old High German #rât# "counsel." The meaning and origin of the second element is rather uncertain: we know that it comes from #gis# (the original form was possibly #gîs#), but we don't exactly know where #gis# itself comes from. But there are a few possibilities. It might come from Gallo-Celtic #gaiso# "spear" (see GAISERIC) or it might be a short form of #gisel#, which means "hostage" or "pledge" (see GISELLE).