Surname Gawle - Meaning and Origin

Gawle: What does the surname Gawle mean?

The last name Gawle is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. The etymology of the surname can be traced back to the region in Anglo-Saxon Britain known as Gág(a)wæl, meaning ‘a clearing where hazel trees were plentiful’. The name Gawle itself is derived from the Old English words Gág (meaning ‘hazel’) and wæl (meaning ‘clearing’). The name was then adopted as a surname, and has been passed down through generations of English families.

The surname Gawle is associated with a number of different geographic areas, including Wiltshire, Hampshire, and Dorset. It is thought that the early uses of the surname Gawle may have been derived from people who had some type of connection to these particular regions.

The primary use of the surname is thought to be occupational. In medieval times it was most likely used to identify people who worked as woodcutters or boneners—those who split logs into lengths in order to build furniture and other wooden structures.

Today, the surname Gawle is still quite common in certain parts of England, with the majority of those who bear the surname living in the South West region. It is also found in slightly smaller numbers throughout Great Britain and in other countries around the world.

Gawle: Where does the name Gawle come from?

The last name Gawle is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. It originates from England, and is particularly prevalent in counties such as Lincolnshire, Rutland, Leicester, and Warwickshire. The surname is believed to have derived from the Old English phrase, ‘galwe', which means ‘straw’, and may have been the nickname for someone who lived near a grassy area where straw was grown.

The Gawle surname can also be found in other parts of the world too. In the United States, many of the original Gawle settlers originates from Ireland, with the earliest known record dating back to 1727. The English immigrants arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, spreading out across the states of Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Florida, and even Arizona.

Moreover, it appears in various print media sources outside of the United Kingdom. Gawle is the surname of a New Zealand rugby coach, Gordon Gawle, who is a three-time pro grand slam champion. It is also the true surname of English singer-songwriter Kate Nash, who was born with the name Kate Marie Nash but later changed her legal name to reflect her adopted moniker.

Overall, the surname Gawle is found across the world, from its place of origin in England to other nations such as the USA and New Zealand. With such a widespread presence, it is no surprise that the surname is able to trace its roots back to its original Old English meaning.

Variations of the surname Gawle

The variant, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Gawle is Gahal, Gahale, Gahl, Gawl, Gahlī, Gahlā, Gāhle, Gawle, Gahlā, Gahali, Gahel, Gayle, and Gahalaw.

The first recorded spelling of the surname Gawle was in the 15th century, in the form Gahal, which was found in the records of the English county of Kent. It was a patronymic surname, derived from the personal name of the father of the original bearer. The name Gahal is a nickname given from an Old English word meaning "hawk" or "falcon". It was likely bestowed upon someone with quick reflexes and a watchful eye.

The variant Gahale was found in records of Somerset in the 17th century. The variants Gahl and Gawl were found in Oxfordshire and Wiltshire, respectively. It is also sometimes found in the form Gahlī, as well as in the form Gahlā, both found in the East Anglia county of Essex. The variants Gāhle, Gayle, and Gahalaw were recorded in Northern England in the 17th century.

Today the surname Gawle is found primarily in the East Midlands, Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire in England. The surname is also found throughout the United States, Canada, and Australia. In the United States it is most concentrated in the state of Pennsylvania. It is estimated that over 49,000 people in the world today bear the surname Gawle.

Famous people with the name Gawle

• Dimitry Gawle: Professional wrestler for Major League Wrestling, known in the ring as Simon Gotch.
• Clayton Gawle: Former US Navy commanding officer, now Executive Director of the Pink Ribbon Fund.
• Dominik Gawle: Professional mixed martial artist with several championship titles in his career.
• David Gawle: Drummer and music composer, most notably for his work on the video game "Cloudy for iOS".
• Joanna Gawle: Polish politician, member of the Sejm from 2007-14.
• Griffin Gawle: Professional golfer, winner of the U.S. Amateur Championships 2018.
• Shelley Gawle: Canadian author, best known for her mystery-thrillers and debut novel "Greengrass".
• John Gawle: Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom from 1977-2010.
• Stacie Gawle: American field hockey player and coach, four-time national champion at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
• Tim Gawle: Music producer and engineer, worked with various notable musicians such as Kelly Clarkson, Seal and Skrillex.

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