Geusa is a village and a former municipality within the district Saalekreis, in the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since January 1, 2010, it is within the town limits of Merseburg.
The von Geusau family of Geusa maintains that the name derives from the Latingans for "goose." However, while this cannot be ruled out, no salient documents exist to support this claim. It is equally probable that the name Geusa shares its origin with the Geisel River Valley, but since both names date back to the days of the Carolingian Empire, the original spelling and etymology have been lost. There are several equally valid possibilities:
Proto-Germanic origin
Due to its age, the name is likely related to the Proto-Germanic root hūsą, meaning "house" or "home."
The first documented mention of the village was in a tithing document created between 881 and 899 in Hersfeld Abbey where the place name was listed as Husuuua in the district of Friesenfeld.[1] This is likely to mean House by the meadow.[2]
Old High German origin
The name may also derive from Old High Germangewi, (from the Gothicgavi, (neuter) or gaujis (genitive)), a medieval term for a region within a country, often a former or actual province. Another possibility is it come from the OHG gīsl or gīsal meaning "hostage."
