Surname Gehlen - Meaning and Origin
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Gehlen: What does the surname Gehlen mean?
The last name Gehlen is of German origin and it is a topographic name for someone who lived by a stream or near a spring. This name was likely derived from the Middle High German spelling “Kelen”.
Historically, the surname Gehlen was most likely spread throughout Europe with German immigrants prior to the 1800s. It was also most commonly found among people of Bavarian descent. In modern times, the surname Gehlen is particularly abundant in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.
In the United States, the Gehlen surname is primarily found in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Ohio, and New York, with most of the population hailing from the Midwest region.
The coat of arms most commonly associated with the Gehlen surname depicts a green field containing three silver lymphad sails. The crest of the shield features three silver rivers that symbolize the force of three armies, which stands for strength and protection.
Today, the Gehlen surname is still alive and well and many people still carry this name with pride. It is a name that is traditionally associated with strength, resilience, and protection.
Order DNA origin analysisGehlen: Where does the name Gehlen come from?
The last name Gehlen is most common in southern Germany, particularly in Bavaria, although the name can be found all over Germany as well as in Austria, Switzerland, and northern Italy. According to the 2019 German census, over 9,400 people in Germany bear the name Gehlen.
Outside of those countries, the name is more rare, but is still present in Canada, the Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Denmark, the United States, and France.
It is not uncommon for the name to be spelled in various ways, so for more populated countries the name may be viewed differently when conducting research. Such variations include Gahlen, Gehlynn, Gahlin, and Gahlynn.
It is believed that before the (Holy) Roman Empire, the origin of the name was linked to the old German phrase "ghelein" meaning "small". It is also thought that the name derived from a location as a topographic name for someone who lived near a lookout.
Variations of the surname Gehlen
The surname Gehlen is of German origin and is derived from an old German word meaning ‘highlander’ or ‘inhabitant of a high country’. There are numerous variants, spellings and surnames associated with Gehlen, including Gailen, Gailon, Gailun, Gailunne, Gealan, Geallen, Gelen, Gellen, Giallen, Giallun, Glan, Glanen, Glean, Cleon, Gehlan, Gailan, Gohlman, Goalsman and Goelzmann.
The variants of the surname Gehlen are mainly associated with the regions along the Rhine River in Germany, particularly Bavaria. This region was heavily populated by ethnic Germans known as the Salzburger, who began migrating to the area in the mid 17th century. The spelling of the surnames transformed over time and across borders as the Germans spread throughout Europe.
In some parts of Germany, the spelling evolved from Gehlen to Gailen, with other variants being found all across Germany. In other areas, such as the Netherlands, the spelling became Gailan. This variant was found mainly amongst the Dutch-speaking communities there, as it is not a German spelling of the surname.
In the United States, the variants of the surname Gehlen have taken on even more diverse spellings. For example, Cleon is used by many families, while Gohlman and Goalsman are used in the New England and Midwest regions, respectively. Goelzmann is also used in the United States, typically found among the more recent immigrants.
All of these variants of the surname Gehlen are still found mainly in Germany today, as well as in the Netherlands, the United States, and in other parts of Europe. The variety of spellings has led to the same family being found under many different spellings, each referring to the same origin.
Famous people with the name Gehlen
- Philipp Gehlen, German soccer player and manager.
- Ludwig Gehlen, German classical composer.
- Francis Gehlen, American food writer and historian.
- Baron von Gehlen, Prussian chief of general staff during WWI.
- Ursula von der Leyen, German Minister of Defense and wife of Philipp Gehlen.
- Wilhelm Lebrecht von Gehlen, Prussian General and member of the House of Lords in the German Empire.
- Andreas Gehlen, German football player.
- Georg Gehlen, German classical singer and songwriter.
- Viktor Gehlen, German composer and conductor.
- Edith Gehlen, German nun and founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Three Holy Kings.