Surname Gelhaar - Meaning and Origin
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Gelhaar: What does the surname Gelhaar mean?
The last name Gelhaar is of German origin. The name derives from a habitational name, which originated as a surname from a place called Gelhar in the state of Schleswig-Holstein. This name is derived from the Old Saxon words 'gala' meaning 'marsh' and 'haar' meaning 'hedge'. Thus, several sources attest to the fact that the family who took on this last name derived from a region in which surrounded by marshland and hedge.
As Gelhaar grew in popularity the surname moved to other parts of Germany, though the main concentration was in Bavaria. Eventually, its presence spread across parts of the United States, England, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Beyond its surname origins, Gelhaar is also associated with nobility. Through various records it is revealed that at one point in the family’s history a branch of Gelhaar belonged to the Hochadel, a noble family class in Germany.
The Gelhaar name has created a fairly sizable legacy for various regions. For instance, in Germany, a street has been named after the Gelhaar family in Berzel, Germany. In addition, more than four hundred streets in the United States have been named after the Gelhaar name.
Today, the Gelhaar family still retains its presence in Germany, United States, England, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, while many of its defining components remain the same as far as its surname origin and nobility are concerned.
Order DNA origin analysisGelhaar: Where does the name Gelhaar come from?
The last name Gelhaar is still common in some parts of Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and parts of Scandinavia. It is also seen in other parts of the world, as it is a relatively common German surname.
Gelhaar has its roots in Germany and is derived from the German word "gel", which means "bright". A number of other names derived from this root word are also still popular today, such as Gellars, Gelhauer and Gellaar.
The Gelhaar name is still fairly common today in Germany, where many families have retained their family name over the generations, and in Austria and Switzerland, where many immigrants from Germany settled in centuries ago. It is also common in other parts of Europe, particularly in areas with German-speaking populations, such as Scandinavia. It is less common in other parts of the world, though it is still seen in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
In the United States, the Gelhaar surname is most common in states such as California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Florida. In Canada, it is most common in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario. In Australia, it is most commonly found in Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia, while in New Zealand, it is most commonly found in Wellington and Auckland.
Variations of the surname Gelhaar
Gelhaar is a German surname which is derived from the Middle High German word, "gelhard". This name is found in several spelling variants, including the following:
* Gehlhaar
* Gahlhaar
* Gehlhaer
* Gehlher
* Gelhaar
* Gelher
* Galhaar
* Gelherr
The meaning of the name Gelhaar is related to the German words "Geld" and "Hard" which together indicate that the original bearer was a hard working and perhaps even wealthy farmer.
The name Gelhaar is most common in Germany today, where it is found in various parts of the country including Bavaria, Thuringia, Saxony, and Hesse.
Other surnames with similar origins include Gelhauser, Gehlhauser, Galhauzer, Gelhausen, and Galhauser. These surnames usually originated from a place name containing the words “gelhard” or “galhard”. For example, the place name Gelhausen in Lower Saxony may have contributed to several of these surnames.
It is also possible that other surnames such as Gallaher, Gallher, and Geller have their roots in the surname Gelhaar, as they could have stemmed from a common ancestor who changed the heritage of their name over time. As such, it is possible for families with surnames such as these to trace their ancestry back to the original Gelhaar family.
Famous people with the name Gelhaar
- Mike Gelhaar: American professional baseball player
- Joe Gelhaar: Former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Julius Gelhaar: German botanist
- Robert Gelhaar:Renowned American abstract expressionist
- Ed Gelhaar: American film editor, producer, and director
- Stephen Gelhaar: American singer-songwriter and folk revivalist
- Jane Gelhaar: American clarinetist and conductor
- Richard Gelhaar: American journalist and former editor-in-chief of the San Francisco Chronicle
- Barry Gelhaar: Canadian chess Grandmaster
- Gary Gelhaar: American former Civil Air Patrol member and flight instructor