Surname Grelak - Meaning and Origin

Grelak: What does the surname Grelak mean?

The last name Grelak is of Polish origin and is derived from an occupational name for a farmer, one who cultivated grains and cereals. The root word ‘gral’ is a Polish word for grain or cereal. It is important to note that within the Polish language, the spelling of the Grelak family name could have changed over time, due to its phonetic spelling.

Grelak is primarily found in the German, British, and United States regions. As the population of Grelak has grown in each of these regions, the variations of the spelling have expanded. The Grelke, Grolak, or Grelik variations, are all believed to actually be variations of the original spelling.

The name Grelak has become quite popular in Poland, thanks to the successful soccer player Jakub Grelak. He was born in Krakow and was part of the Polish National team from 2005-2014. He selected the name for his younger brother, adding to the popularity of the surname in Poland.

Overall, the surname Grelak, is an important part of the Polish culture and has been used to denote someone of farmer descent for many generations. It's important to remember the significance behind the name and honor it for the significance it holds.

Grelak: Where does the name Grelak come from?

The surname Grelak can be commonly found in a few areas in Europe. In Poland, this name is quite popular in the Silesia region. It is also a common name in Lithuania, where it originated, often found in the counties of Šiauliai, Panevėžys, and Marijampolė.

In Germany, Grelak is most common in the area surrounding the city of Essen in the old West-Germany. It isn’t overly common in other parts of Germany but has begun to spread out to other parts of the country.

In the United States, Grelak is not often seen. The origin of the surname in the U.S. is believed to be a Polish immigrant, so mostly the surname can be found in certain cities that have larger Polish communities such as New York, Chicago, and Detroit.

In other countries, the surname can be found mainly in people with familial ties to the European countries of Poland, Lithuania, and Germany.

Overall, the Grelak surname is not especially common in any of the countries it is found in, especially the United States, but still has small pockets of presence in European countries, and began spreading out to at least certain parts of the United States in the past century.

Variations of the surname Grelak

The surname Grelak is of Slavic origin and is derived from the name Grzelak, which is derived from the Polish word grzelac, meaning become enraged or fierce. Variations of the surname Grelak include Grzelak, Grzela, Grzelczak, Grella, Grella, Grelak, Grelczak, and Grzelka.

In various countries around the world, the Grelak surname has taken on different spellings and variations, such as Grelec in Croatia, Grzelka in Slovenia, Greils in Austria, Greilek in Slovakia, Grzelach in Ukraine, and Grzelak in Poland.

In the United States, the Grelak surname is most commonly found among American-Polish immigrants. Variations of the Grelak surname can also be found in other countries in Europe, such as Germany, England, Italy, and Ireland.

In Germany, the surnames Grelaks and Grzelak are commonly found, as are Grzela, Grzelczak, Grella, Grzelka, Greillec, Greils, and Greilek. In England, spellings such as Grela, Greyllack, Grayla, Grella, Grzelka, and Grzelka are common.

In Italy, the Grelak surname has taken on the spellings Grelacchi, Grella, Grelle, and Grella. In Ireland, the surnames Grela, Grills, and Greakia are also found.

Overall, the Grelak surname has many variations, spellings, and surname variants, and is one of the most widely spread Polish surnames throughout the world.

Famous people with the name Grelak

• Tom Grelak: former college football coach who was a key member of the McNeese State coaching staff for several seasons; later worked as a color analyst on Southland Conference broadcasts.
• Chris Grelak, crowdsourcing entrepreneur who co-founded the public benefit corporation Crowdsourcing.org.
• Natalia Grelak: Polish poet and writer, best known for her collections of short stories and the novel Młode Serca.
• Kirsten Grelak: Canadian executive coach, specializing in the topic of professional success and personal flourishing.
• Sebastian Grelak: Polish professional footballer who plays for Stomil Olsztyn in the Polish second division.
• Halina Grelak: Polish-American author, aerorobics instructor, and vocalist, best known for her work on the anthology Little Europe.
• Jola Grelak: Polish actress who has appeared in a variety of Polish soap operas and TV series.
• Józef Grelak: Polish sculptor and designer of public monuments, including the acclaimed bronze statue of Pope John Paul II that stands in front of the capitol building in Poznań.
• Matthew Grelak: American golf instructor and former professional golfer, best known for his work as the head coach of the University of Hartford men's golf team.
• Anna Grelak: Polish sculptor, graphic designer, and illustrator, best known for her abstract sculptures of animals, particularly horses.

Other surnames

GrelaGrelack