Surname Gehley - Meaning and Origin
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Gehley: What does the surname Gehley mean?
The surname Gehley is of German origin. It is derived from the word “Gehle”, which is a dialectal variant of the word “Gähling”, and is derived from the Middle High German word “göhle”, which means “separated piece of land”. Gehley is a habitational name, from any of various farms and villages so named. The name was probably given to a family that lived in or owned such a place. It is likely that the name referred literally to a family who owned segregated pieces of land or farms, and thus were well-to-do in comparison to their neighbors.
Over time, the surname Gehley has spread throughout the world with members of the Gehley family settling in America, England, Australia and other countries in the 1800s. Many places in America, including Germantown, Pennsylvania, have a Gehley family descendants living there today.
In modern times, the surname carries many connotations such as hard-working, disciplined, and independent. People with the name often proudly bear the name with pride and honor. It is seen as a sign of strength and accomplishment. People from diverse backgrounds often share a common precursor in the surname, and it is likely to be associated with a long and unique line of tradition and culture. The fact that people with Gehley as their surname are found in almost every part of the world speaks of the vast and diverse history of the name, and of its role in creating the values that the world still adheres to today.
Order DNA origin analysisGehley: Where does the name Gehley come from?
The last name Gehley is most commonly found in the United States and Canada today. According to the United States Census records, the majority of people with the Gehley surname are found in the Midwest states, such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois. The first recorded Gehley immigrants to the US were Jacob and Catharine Gehley who arrived in 1854 from Württemberg, Germany.
Gehley settlers in the late 19th century could be found in several Midwestern states, such as Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, and Missouri. Since then, the Gehley surname has become increasingly popular in the Northeastern states of New York, Vermont and Massachusetts, as well as the southern states of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.
The Gehley surname is a relatively uncommon one. According to Ancestry.com's records, there are currently an estimated 1,400 people in the U.S. and Canada with this name. It is more commonly found in major cities, such as Chicago, Detroit, and Toronto.
The majority of those carrying the Gehley name today trace their roots back to Germany. The majority of those of German descent bearing the Gehley surname live in the Midwest states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. There are also smaller populations in other states, as well as parts of Canada and even some countries in Europe.
Variations of the surname Gehley
The surname Gehley is of German origin and is believed to have evolved from a kind of geographical and patronymic surname. A geographical name was a type of surname used to describe someone from a specific place, and patronymic surnames were derived from a paternal ancestor's name. The variant spellings of Gehley include Gahley, Gehle, Gahle, Giehl, Gayle, Gayhl, Gehl, Gehlert, Giehler and Gayhler.
The surname Gehley is as well found throughout Europe as a name variation of the same root name. Gehl or Goehl is a German surname, Ghio is an Italian variation, Goehl is found in Northern Germany, Giehl is the variation found in Southern Germany, Gahel is found in Austria, Gahler is found in Northern Germany, Gahle is found in Eastern Germany, Gehlert is found in South East Germany, Gaylard is a French surname and Gahlay is found in northern Germany.
Gehley is sometimes found in conjunction with other surnames such as von Gehly, which is the German version of "of Gehly." In the Netherlands, the surname Gehly is found in the form of Goelie and Goele. The name Gehlen is a variation of Gehly and is derived from the name Gahlen, which is found in the Netherlands.
Surnames derived from the root name Gehley are not limited to just European countries, and can be found around the world. In the United States, the surname Gehley is found in the form of Gahley, Gehley, Gehlert, Gayler, and Gaylard. In Canada, the name Gehley is often spelled as Gehl, Gehle, Gahley, Gaylard, and Giehl.
The earliest known record of the surname Gehley dates back to the middle of the 13th century, when it is found in the eastern region of Germany. Since then, many variations and transliterations of the name Gehley have spread to other parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Gehley
- Tokeya Gehley: Tokeya Gehley is a professional Freestyle Motocross (FMX) rider. He won X-fighters competitions in 2012 and 2013.
- Chad Gehley: Chad Gehley is a professional race car driver. He mainly competes in Super Late Model divisions.
- Bill Gehley: Bill Gehley was the artistic director of Centre Stage in New Orleans, Louisiana. He specialized in training theater actors.
- Josh Gehley: Josh Gehley is an entrepreneur and digital marketer. He specializes in helping businesses increase their online presence and generating leads for their business.
- Stephanie Gehley: Stephanie Gehley is an opera singer and music educator. She performed as one of the world's leading contraltos.
- Mary Gehley: Mary Gehley was a civil rights activist and community leader. She is largely credited with founding and building the civil rights movement in Georgia in the late 1960s.
- Jason Gehley: Jason Gehley is a professional MMA fighter. He is the CEO of MTX Sports LLC, a sports marketing company.
- Bradley Gehley: Bradley Gehley is a professional golf instructor, He is the creator of The Swing in Balance golf instruction program.
- Dwayne Gehley: Dwayne Gehley is an American film and television director, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for his work on the television shows "Will & Grace" and "30 Rock".
- George Gehley: George Gehley is an American attorney, judge, and political figure. He served as a justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court from 1981 to 1984.