Surname Gedvila - Meaning and Origin
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Gedvila: What does the surname Gedvila mean?
The surname Gedvila is of Lithuanian origin and is derived from Gedvilas, which is itself derived from the Lithuanian words gedas, meaning ‘ears’, and vilas, meaning ‘willow’. Together, the two words are translated as ‘willow ears’.
In the old days of Lithuania, the surname Gedvila was used to distinguish someone from their neighbor. It functioned similarly to a nickname and was typically given to someone based on a physical trait, distinguishing them in some way. For instance, someone with particularly large ears would be designated as “Gedvila.”
Having the last name Gedvila today can be seen as something of an honor. To the modern Lithuanian people, it speaks of a long history of ancestors who had to rely on their resourcefulness and hard work to provide a better life for their families. It is no surprise then that when a person from the Gedvila family excels in their chosen field, they can be incredibly proud of the name they bear.
Today, the Gedvila family is spread far around the world, with branches of the family in Lithuania, in the United States, and many other countries. Despite the many miles that separate them, the Gedvila family is still connected through its shared heritage, the proud history that comes with its unique surname.
Order DNA origin analysisGedvila: Where does the name Gedvila come from?
The surname Gedvila is most commonly found in Lithuania. It is a patronymic surname derived from Gedvilas, a Lithuanian given name meaning “son of Gedvil”. The meaning of Gedvil is uncertain, but it could be related to the Lithuanian word “gedas” meaning “plowman, husbandman, farmer.”
As of 2015, there were over 2,500 Gedvilas in Lithuania today. This is an increase from the 1,000 Gedvilas recorded in Lithuania in 1921. The name is found in some parts of Poland and Belarus as well.
Outside of Eastern Europe, Gedvila is a relatively uncommon surname, occurring in very small numbers in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. In the United States, the most likely locations to find someone with a Gedvila surname are New York, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
The Gedvila surname is rare but the Lithuanian language itself is becoming more commonplace around the world. In recent years, there has been an increased interest in Lithuanian languages, culture, and history outside the country.
Despite its relatively uncommon nature, the Gedvila surname will likely remain a part of Lithuanian culture for many years to come and will continue to be used in some parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Gedvila
Gedvila is a surname that has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Gedvila is derived from the Lithuanian word “gedvilas”, which can be translated roughly as "son-in-law" or "brother-in-law."
The most common spellings for Gedvila are Gedvilas and Gedvlas, which both have many variations, including Gedvlyas, Gedvolas, Gedvellas and Gedvilas. These spellings can also appear with a variety of suffixes such as -sena, -ene, -ina, -ova, -onka and -oni.
The surname can also be found as Gedviliene, Gedvilaitis or Gedvilaitene. Gedulo is another variant, as well as Gedula, Gedusa and Geduska, and Geduliene. There is also Gedulikas, Geduliškis and Gedulka.
Gedvila has been shortened to Ge, Dvila, Dvilys and Dvilaite. Other forms of the name include Gedulai and Gedvilaitis. Many of these spellings contain Ukrainian and Russian endings, as the name is also found in these countries.
Additionally, Gedvila is the basis for many surnames of similar origin, including Gedvilsonas, Gedvilaitis, Gedvile, Gedviličius and Gedvilaite. The root word Gedvila is also seen in other Lithuanian surnames such as Gedvainis, Gedvinas, Gedvilskis, Gedvilašis, Gedvildas and Gedvilijus.
In conclusion, Gedvila is a surname with many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These variations appear in spellings and surnames throughout Lithuania, Ukraine, and Russia.
Famous people with the name Gedvila
- Kazimieras Gedvila: Lithuanian preacher and statesman.
- Loreta Gedvilaite: Lithuanian sport shooter.
- Girėnas Gedvilas: Lithuanian footballer.
- Feliksas Gedvilas: Lithuanian fighter pilot during World War II, known for the attempted assassination of Adolf Hitler in 1936.
- Vytautas Gedvila: Lithuanian weightlifter, who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
- Kęstutis Gedvila: Lithuanian modern pentathlete, who competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics.
- Elizaveta Gedvilaite: Lithuanian discus thrower.
- Petras Gedvilas: Lithuanian bobsledder who competed in the late 1980s.
- Jonas Gedvila: Lithuanian basketball player, a member of the Lithuanian national team.
- Airi Gedvila: Estonian educator and politician.