Surname Gawel - Meaning and Origin
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Gawel: What does the surname Gawel mean?
The last name Gawel (also spelled Gawel, Gawelka, Gawelko, Gawelczak, etc.) is of Polish origin. It is derived from the given name Gawa, which was popular in medieval Poland. The given name Gawa comes from the root word gawa, meaning “to go” or “to wander”, and thus it can be interpreted as someone who is constantly on the move. It could also be related to the Latin word gavilla, which means “mustering of workmen”, thus connoting someone who is constantly working.
This surname is relatively common and can be found in several European countries, including Poland, Germany, Lithuania, Ukraine and Hungary. In the United States, Gawel is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. It is also the name of several small towns and settlements in Poland, Ukraine and Hungary.
In the meaning of the name Gawel, the emphasis is on diligent work, travel and exploration of the unknown. Persons with this last name tend to be determined, energetic and ambitious, but always mindful of their family, friends and environment.
Order DNA origin analysisGawel: Where does the name Gawel come from?
The last name Gawel is of Germanic origin and translates to mean "governor". The name is commonly found today throughout the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, and Poland.
In the United States, the name Gawel is most common in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. It is most frequent in the Midwest region, according to the US Census Bureau. Pennsylvania ranks the highest for Gawel occurrences in the US, with the surname having a relative population of 8,862 individuals as of 2010.
In Germany, the family name Gawel is ranked 23,170 out of a total of 88,799 family names. In Austria, the name Gawel ranks 4, exclaimed for a total of 34,798 inhabitants.
In the United Kingdom, Gawel ranks as the 67,183rd most common last name; the same spot is held in the England and Wales region. The surname has also spread to Australia, where it has a population of 503 individuals.
Overall, the last name Gawel can be found across a variety of countries in very similar numbers. Today, it is most commonly found in the United States, Germany, Austria, United Kingdom, and Poland.
Variations of the surname Gawel
The surname Gawel is a Polish name with variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin including Gawl, Gawla, Gawlik, Gawlowski, Gawlak, Gawroński, Gawin, Gawryś, Gaweda, Gawer, and Gawinowicz.
Gawl is the closest variant of Gawel, and differs from the original surname only in the letter ending. This spelling likely has its roots in the same Polish ancestor as other variants, but was probably adopted from a different region in Poland. The letter 'l' replaces the 'el,' which is a common change in Polish surnames.
Gawla is a second variant of the surname Gawel,l and is likely the result of incorrect spelling or pronunciation. It is not as popular as the original name, and is usually used as a nickname for the original surname, Gawel.
Gawlik likely originated out of a misspelling of the original surname. As the first letter 'G' and the last letter 'l' remained intact, the 'aw' was likely replaced with 'ik.' This is a common change in the Polish language, as the suffix '-ik' is commonly used.
Gawlowski is a different variation of the original surname, and is formed through an addition of -owski, the Polish patronymic suffix. It can also be seen written as Gawlowki, which is an older version of the surname.
Gawlak is a variant form of Gawel, and is likely to have originated in eastern Poland. It can also be seen written as Gawlek, which is a more modern spelling of the name.
Gawroński and Gawryś are two variant forms of the original Gawel surname that have been derived through the addition of the Polish patronymic suffix '-ski' or '-ś.' The difference between the two is that the variant 'Gawroński' includes a nasal 'ń' as its second letter indicating a Polish landowning family.
Gaweda is another variant of Gawel, originating from the Polish word for 'shepherdess' or 'shepherd.' It is thought to have most likely been used as an occupational surname, given to a person who owned or managed animals, either livestock or wild beasts.
Gawer, like Gaweda, is likely an occupational surname and is derived from the Polish term 'gwara' or 'gwar' meaning a 'chatter' or 'gossip.' This variant could have been given to someone who talked about gossiping, and this could have ceased no one in a small community from a long time ago.
Finally, Gawinowicz is the tenth and final variant of the original surname Gawel. This variation is derived from the addition of the Polish patronymic suffix '-owicz' to the original surname.
Famous people with the name Gawel
- Joseph Gawel: Former professional ice hockey player in the Central Hockey League.
- Szymon Gawel: Polish soccer player.
- Ryszard Gawel: Member of the European Parliament from Poland.
- Jan Gawel: Polish fencer.
- Darrell Gawel: American actor.
- Louis Gawel: American baseball umpire.
- Massiel Gawel: Artist and designer from Colombia.
- Shel Gawel: American politician.
- Ron Gawel: Former Canadian football player.
- Stan Kwi, aka Stanislaw Gawel Warzecha: Painter and sculptor from Poland.