Surname Grzelka - Meaning and Origin
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Grzelka: What does the surname Grzelka mean?
The last name Grzelka is of Polish origin and is derived from the Polish word 'grzelek', meaning 'pelley' or 'pebble'.
The original bearer of the surname likely took the surname from the occupation of extracting small stones, called 'grzelki', from streams for use as currency during the Middle Ages. Alternatively, the name could be the original form of the surname 'Grzelka', which is a variation of the surname 'Grzybek' meaning 'mushroom'.
The name Grzelka can be found throughout history in Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic. In the 19th century, an estimated 4,600 persons with the name lived in Poland. By the early 21st century, the majority of bearers of the surname Grzelka were still living in Poland.
In present-day, the surname is found as Grzelka, Grzelko, Grzelkowski, Grzelkowski, and Grzelka-Grzelka. It is still popular in Poland and other Central and Eastern European countries, as well as in the United States.
In popular culture, the surname Grzelka is most often associated with Antoni Grzelka, a Polish word painter of the early 20th century. His work popularized an artistic style known as zwyczajny (ordinary), which utilized everyday elements as the subject of works. His paintings represent the beauty and unique characteristics of Polish culture.
Order DNA origin analysisGrzelka: Where does the name Grzelka come from?
The last name Grzelka is most common today in Poland, particularly in the eastern part of the country, where more people adopted this name during the time of partitions. Although it is not as widespread as other surnames in the region – such as Nowak, Kowalski, and Wojcik – the Grzelka surname can still be found scattered across various cities and rural areas.
The origin of the name is thought to be Slavic, with its roots coming from the word "grzężalka," which is an old Polish word for a kind of edible mouse. However, the name may also be related to the lessons of a plant. It is not clear.
Today, Grzelka is a surname associated with citizens from many different parts of Poland and the larger immigrant population who call the United States and Australia home. Within these countries, the Grzelka name can be seen in areas with strong Polish diaspora communities, such as those found in Chicago, Illinois, and Sydney and Melbourne, Australia.
In these countries, the last name Grzelka is relatively uncommon, but not something unheard of. The Grzelka population is small but growing, as each generation puts its own spin on their heritage and unique identity.
Variations of the surname Grzelka
The surname Grzelka is known to have multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
Variants of Grzelka include: Grzech, Grzegorz, Grzeszczak, Grzybkiewicz, Grzybowska, Grzywa, Gucwiak, Gucwowska, and Gus.
Spellings of Grzelka include: Grzela, Grzelak, Grzelczak, Grzelka, and Grzelec.
Surnames of the same origin as Grzelka are: Borus, Gacek, Gorzelik, Grzelak, Grzelczak, Grzelec, Grzelka, Grzesik, Grzesiak, and Grzyb.
Grzelka is derived from the Polish word ‘grzywka’, which means fringes or locks of hair. This surname, found mainly in Poland, is likely to have been acquired by individuals with long hair or by hair dressers. It’s also possible for families who used to handle, attach, and cut fringes in fabrics to have acquired this last name.
Though the surname Grzelka is typically Polish in origin, its variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin may be found in multiple countries. In France, for example, the surname Grzela can be found, while the surname Grzesiak is found in northern parts of Germany. It's also possible to find some individuals with Grzelka as their surname in Lithuania and Austria, where it is spelled Grželka.
In conclusion, the surname Grzelka has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. This Polish surname is typically derived from the word ‘grzywka’ and it can be found in countries including France, Germany, Lithuania, and Austria.
Famous people with the name Grzelka
- Robert Grzelka: Polish swimmer and Olympic competitor.
- Andrzej Grzelka: Polish sport shooter and Olympic competitor.
- Jon Grzelka: professional bull rider.
- Flora Grzelka: Slovak folk musician and woman's rights advocate.
- Paul Grzelka: American businessman and entrepreneur.
- Elżbieta Grzelka: Polish lawyer and former Director of the Institute of Psychology at the University of Wrocław.
- Gyöngyi Grzelka: Hungarian handball player and Olympic competitor.
- Zbigniew Grzelka: Polish sculptor, author, and professor.
- László Grzelka: Hungarian swimmer and two-time Olympic competitor.
- Agata Grzelka: Polish model, television presenter, and social influencer.