Surname Jurgelaitis - Meaning and Origin

Jurgelaitis: What does the surname Jurgelaitis mean?

The last name Jurgelaitis is an old Lithuanian surname derived from the word "jurgelis" meaning "cheerful" or "jolly". It is believed to have been taken on by an ancestor of the family who was known for his jovial character and strong leadership.

The Jurgelaitis family originated in the small village of Kudirkos Naumiestis, Lithuania around the 16th century. While many members of the family still live in the area, others have migrated overseas with some surnames remaining and others changing.

The original spelling of the name was Jurgelis, which over time changed to Jurgelaitis. Even today, there are variations in the name, such as Jurgela and Jurgeliunas which are also common surnames in Lithuania.

The Jurgelaitis family has a strong sense of cultural pride and heritage, and its members are proud of their Lithuanian heritage. They are often committed to maintaining the values that their ancestors brought to Lithuania during their migrations and protecting the beauty of their land. Through service to their communities and moral influence they continue to build on the strong foundations set by their forefathers.

In modern times, the Jurgelaitis surname is seen as a symbol of strength and hope, an inspiring reminder of the courage and resilience of one small family and an entire nation.

Jurgelaitis: Where does the name Jurgelaitis come from?

The last name Jurgelaitis is most often found among Lithuanian-American communities in the United States. Prior to World War I, it was one of many Lithuanian surnames found primarily in their homeland of Lithuania. However, in the early 1900s, a Lithuanian diaspora was established and many Lithuanian immigrants settled in the United States, where the name and its variations—Jurgelaityte, Jugelaite, Jurgelaitiene—are still common today.

Jurgelaitis is first and foremost a Lithuanian surname, derived from the familiar first name Jurgis. The name carries with it a variety of meanings, depending upon the context. Jurgis roughly translates to “real man,” “strongman,” or “real hero.”

The most obvious concentration of Jurgelaitis families in the United States is the Midwest—namely Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana. Chicago, in particular, is a hotspot for Jurgelaitis immigrants and descendants. Although many Jurgelaitis families relocated to California and other parts of the country, the Midwest remains the largest population hub today.

It is no surprise that with the large Lithuanian-American population, particularly in the Midwest, that the last name Jurgelaitis continues to be a common one today. With its historic origin and numerous meaning, it is an interesting name that remains embedded in many Lithuanian-American’s heritage.

Variations of the surname Jurgelaitis

The surname Jurgelaitis is derived from the Lithuanian male given name Jurgis, which is a short form for the name Jurgutis. It is a patronymic surname, meaning it is based on the given name of the father of the original bearer. Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Jurgelaitis include Jurgelewicz, Jurgiewicz, Jurgėla, Jurgalitis, Yurgelevich, Jurgelavich, Yurgelevich, Jurgelesvicz, Yurgelevicius, Jurgelėnas, Jurgelevitch, Yurgeleitis, Jurgėlaitytė, Yurgelevas, Jurgaityte, and Jurgelavicius.

Many of the surnames listed can be traced back to the large migration of Lithuanians to the USA, which began in the late 19th century and continued up until the early 20th century. During this time, many of the original surnames were simplified and Americanized, leading to certain surnames being spelled and pronounced differently than the original spelling.

Some of the variants and modified spellings of Jurgelaitis may have arisen from the difficulty of transliterating Lithuanian letters into other languages and forces of assimilation and immigration, such as when people decided to make their surnames sound more "American" or because of the chances of families moving or relocating from one place to another.

In some cases, such as with Yurgelevich, Jurgelesvicz, Yurgelevicius, and Yurgeleitis, it is likely that the surname was changed to make a stylistic adaptation in order to make it easier to pronounce for a person’s new surroundings. Such was the case with the high numbers of Lithuanian immigrants from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, who wanted to make their surnames sound more native to their surroundings and their newly chosen countries.

Overall, Jurgelaitis is a patronymic surname based on the given name Jurgis, which evolved with time as the surname of a particular family changed with the passage of generations, varying with immigration, assimilation, and forces of cultural change.

Famous people with the name Jurgelaitis

• Vytenis Jurgelaitis (Lithuanian chess grandmaster, and International Master)
• Modestas Jurgelaitis (Lithuanian footballer, and UEFA Champions League and Europa League winner with CSKA Moscow)
• Laura Jurgelaitis (American multi-time amateur boxing world champion)
• Mana Jurgelaitis (Lithuanian model)
• David Jurgelaitis (American professional golfer)
• Garrett Jurgelaitis (American former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher)
• Pete Jurgelaitis (American former NFL Player)
• Justin Jurgelaitis (AIDS activist)
• Emil Jurgelaitis (Lithuanian weightlifter)
• Zygimantas Jurgelaitis (Lithuanian historian)

Other surnames

Jurgelait