Surname Gehlken - Meaning and Origin
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Gehlken: What does the surname Gehlken mean?
The last name Gehlken is a Germanic surname, often originating from Northern Germany. It is derived from the Old German word "Gehalk," which means hedge, tending to refer to someone who lived near or was responsible for a hedge.
Most people with the Gehlken surname are descendants of farming families who lived in farming communities for generations. The surname itself denotes a person with a strong connection to the land and was most likely used to differentiate between different farmer’s families.
Today, the Gehlken surname is widespread across Germany and also appears in other countries where German immigrants have settled, such as the United States and Canada.
Overall, the Gehlken surname denotes a family that is strongly rooted in farming, with a long history in its respective rural communities. This strong connection to the land is likely part of the reason why the surname has endured through centuries and been adopted by so many around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisGehlken: Where does the name Gehlken come from?
The last name Gehlken is most commonly found in Germany. According to the Geneanet Genealogy website, Gehlken is found most often today in the Münsterland region in North-Rhine Westphalia, which is located in the northwestern part of Germany. The Gehlken surname has also been found the Lüneburg region of Lower Saxony.
Gehlken is also found in other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands and Scandinavia. Additionally, the name has been found in small numbers in the United States, with many of these individuals tracing their lineage back to their German ancestors. In 2020, the U.S. Census estimated that there were roughly 1,030 people who had the last name Gehlken living in this country.
In Germany, Gehlken is a relatively rare surname and is usually associated with people from the same region or area. It is an occupational surname and was often given to the son of a man who worked as a horseman. The name is derived from the German word 'gellen', which means 'to gallop'.
Overall, the last name Gehlken is more common in Germany, particularly in the Northwestern regions of North-Rhine Westphalia and Lower Saxony. The name is also found scattered throughout Europe and in small numbers in the United States, with these individuals typically tracing their family history back to their German ancestors.
Variations of the surname Gehlken
The variant, spellings and surnames of origin for the surname Gehlken are varying, however, there are three primary forms.
The most common spelling is Gehlken, whereas other common variants are Gehleken and Gehlke. The variant Gehleken is actually derived from the original form of the surname, as it was often spelled as “Gehlecke” when the surname was first recorded in the early 16th century in Hanover, Germany.
Surnames of a similar origin include Gahler, Gehlhaar, Gehling and Gerling. These surnames are all rooted in the Old German word “galgen” which literally means gallow. This may imply a person of this name was related to someone or something executed on a gallow in Germany’s medieval period.
The spelling of the surname may also be influenced by the spoken word, leading to many different ways of pronouncing and spelling the surname, including Gecken, Gaalen and Ghalen.
Gehlken is also often combined with other surnames when immigrants moved to other countries, leading to the different surnames such as Gehlken-Reich, Gehlken-Hoffman, and Gehlken-Tobias.
Overall, Gehlken is a very common German surname that is rooted in the Old German language. As stated above, its variants, spellings, and similar surnames may vary and even be country specific, depending on where the surname spread to.
Famous people with the name Gehlken
- Brian Gehlken: television sports anchor for Fox 5 San Diego
- Christopher Gehlken: former professional American football player
- Erich Gehlken: American academic and professor of accounting
- Astrid Gehlken: German radio presenter
- Lars Gehlken: German actor
- William M. Gehlken: American professor in the department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion
- Christian Gehlken: German footballer
- Andreas Gehlken: former professional football player
- Jens Gehlken: former German footballer
- Erich Gehlken: German footballer