Surname Gamal - Meaning and Origin

Gamal: What does the surname Gamal mean?

The last name Gamal is of Arabic origin and is usually used in various Muslim communities. The literal meaning of the name is “Camel” which suggests that the original name holders were camel herders or traders. In Arabic culture, camels were symbolism for strength, resilience, patience, and ambition, so the name Gamal is also associated with these qualities. Gamal is also a popular masculine first name in Muslim culture, as the name was borne by the fourth Rashidun Caliph, Ali ibn Abi Talib. As a result, the use of Gamal as a surname has increased in Muslim countries, such as Egypt, Sudan, UAE, Syria and Saudi Arabia.

Other origins for the name Gamal include ancient greek, where the name could mean “Beautiful” or “splendid” as a tribute to the Greek goddess Gaea. In Christianity, the name was most likely derived from the Hebrew Gamli, which is a variant of the biblical name Gamaliel. This Hebrew name originally meant “God is my Reward.”

The most common orthographic forms for Gamal in Spanish are Gamal, Gamala, Gamall, and Gamalí, and in Portuguese Gamalo, and Gamala. No matter the origin, the name Gamal is linked to strength, ambition, and sometimes even blessings from God, which exemplifies the men and women who bear the name and are proud of it.

Gamal: Where does the name Gamal come from?

The last name Gamal is common in many countries across the world today. In North Africa and the Middle East, it is most common in Egypt, where it is the 27th most common surname. The estimated population of people with the last name Gamal in Egypt is around 230,000 people.

Outside of the Middle East/North Africa region, Gamal is found in smaller groups primarily in the United States and United Kingdom. It is estimated that there are around 8,000 people with the last name in the United States and around 7,500 in the United Kingdom. Across Europe, the name is also found in smaller numbers in France, Germany, Sweden, Italy, and Spain.

Within the United States, people with the last name Gamal are found in relative concentrations in distinct regions. The highest concentration of Gamal is in California, with around 1,700 people, followed by Virginia and Maryland with approximately 500 each. Other states with sizeable concentrations of the last name include Texas, Illinois, New Jersey, and Florida.

Overall, the last name Gamal is most common today in Egypt, followed by various countries across North America and Europe at much smaller sizes.

Variations of the surname Gamal

The surname Gamal is an Arabic, Muslim, and Jewish surname derived from the Arabic word “gamal”, which literally translates to “camel”. It is believed to have first originated as an occupation-based surname referring to a dealer or handler of camels.

Variants of the surname Gamal include the spellings Gamaal, Gamall, Gammal, Gemal, Gemall, and Ghamal. All of these spellings can also be used as given names, although this is rare outside of the Arab world.

Other surnames or family names have developed from the Arabic root of Gamal, meaning variants of the surname Gamal can also be found in other parts of the world with different spellings. For example, in South Asia, variants such as Gemel, Gomol, and Gomul may be found. In the United States, variants of Gamal include Gimel, Gemel, and Gomel.

Additionally, there are variants which have Italian, Turkish, and Armenian derivations. Moveggio, originally derived from the Italian Mugello, is another form of the surname Gamal. Similarly, the Turkish version of the surname Gamal is Gemali or Cemali, which can also be found in Turkish-speaking areas of Greece and Bulgaria. Lastly, the Armenian version of the surname Gamal is Gamalyan.

In summary, the surname Gamal is an Arabic, Muslim, and Jewish surname derived from the Arabic word “gamal”, meaning “camel”, and has various spellings and variants across different parts of the world, such as Gamaal, Gamall, Gammal, Gemal, Gemall, Ghamal, Gemel, Gomol, Gomul, Moveggio, Gemali, Cemali, and Gamalyan.

Famous people with the name Gamal

• Omar Suleiman: He is a prominent Egyptian political figure who served as vice president of Egypt from 2011 to 2012 and Egypt’s intelligence chief from 1993 to 2011.
• Tavon Wilson: He is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He previously played college football for University of Illinois.
• Zewditu Gamal: She was an Ethiopian royal family member and a member of the Egba sub-clan of the Amhara people.
• Anwar Sadat: He was the third President of Egypt from 15 October 1970 until his assassination on 6 October 1981.
• Mohamed Gamal Abdel-Nasser: He was a major political figure in 20th century Egypt, serving as Prime Minister from 1954 to 1962 and President from 1956 to 1970.
• Hosni Mubarak: He was the fourth President of Egypt from 1981 to 2011, when he was forced to resign after the Egyptian revolution of 2011.
• Tariq Gamal el-Din Temay: He is an Egyptian businessman who serves as the chairman of Egypt Telecom Group.
• Gamal Eddin Abdelgbader: He is a Syrian political figure who currently serves as the Secretary of the Executive Office of the Prime Minister of Syria.
• Nasser Gamal Ibrahim: He is a Libyan politician who served as the Chairman of the Transitional National Assembly from its creation in August 2011 until his resignation in October 2012.
• Gamal Zarrouk: He is an Egyptian journalist who has worked for various newspapers in Egypt and also reported on Al Jazeera and Euronews. He has also authored several books.

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