Surname Gehlicke - Meaning and Origin

Gehlicke: What does the surname Gehlicke mean?

The last name Gehlicke is of German origin and is believed to be derived from a German place-name beginning with the element "gehl-", which is derived from the Low German word "gehal", meaning "hedge" or "fence". It is likely that the original bearer of the name came from a place known for its hedge or fence, which eventually became associated with the family who lived there.

The name Gehlicke is most commonly found in the northern parts of Germany. It is believed to be the five-hundred-sixtieth most common surname in Germany. It is also common in the Netherlands, though the frequency is much lower there than in Germany.

The name Gehlicke is believed to have been borne by families of numerous professions over the centuries. Common professions included farming and various forms of trade. It is possible that the original bearer of the name was a farmer, though this is only speculation.

The surname Gehlicke has also been known to be spelled Ghelicke, Gehleck, Gehlick, Gehlichke and Gehlicker, among other variations. It is likely that some of these variants have fallen out of usage over time or have been changed due to changes in pronunciation. Regardless, the name still remains prominent both in Germany and in areas of the Netherlands today.

Gehlicke: Where does the name Gehlicke come from?

The last name Gehlicke is most commonly found today in Germany and other German-speaking countries such as Austria and Switzerland. Variants of the name Gehlicke can also be found in England, the Netherlands as well as in other countries in both Europe and North America.

Gehlicke is an unusual name and the origins of the name are uncertain. The word ‘geh’ in modern German means go or walk, so it is possible that the original bearer of this name was viewed as someone who was always on the go. The suffix ‘-licke’, however, is believed to be derived from a Slavic term meaning ‘kind or gentle’.

The distribution of this unusual name is quite limited especially if compared with other common German family names. In the United States alone, it is thought that there are just two thousand bearers of this name spread out across the country, with the largest concentration by far being in the state of Pennsylvania.

The largely Germanic-speaking population of Pennsylvania would be the most likely source for bearers of this name, so it stands to reason that this is where the majority of Gehlicke families can be found today.

Variations of the surname Gehlicke

Gehlicke is a German surname that is likely derived from the Middle High German word “gehlico”, meaning “happy” or “lucky.” The surname is found in various forms and spellings around the world, including Gehlke, Gelke, Gehleke, Gehlich, Gehlic, Gelich, Ghellick, Ghelicke,Gehly, and Ghelly. It is also sometimes seen as Gelch, Ghelich or Gehlichke.

Variants of this surname are occasionally seen with double "h" or double "l" letters, such as Ghellich, Ghellichke, Gehhlich, Ghelllich, Gehele, Gelhlich, Gelliich, Gellich, or Ghellich. There are also possible older variations which include Gelliic, Gelhelich, Gehehelich, Gelhlex, and Ghallich.

Surnames derived from Gehlicke include Gelcko, Gehleck, Gehlicz, Gehlichs, Gehlisk, Ghelisk and Ghelichske. Another variant of Gehlicke is Ghelick, which originates from East Prussia and is common in Russia, as well as in Belarus, Ukraine, and Poland. A possible variant from Hungary is Gyellicke, which is found mainly in Transylvania.

Despite its geographical variations, the Gehlicke surname has its ancestry in Middle High German and a common definition of “happy” and “lucky”.

Famous people with the name Gehlicke

• Shawn Gehlke: American actor
• Jörg Gehlke: German former footballer
• Siegfried Gehlke: German diver
• Werner Gehlke: German bobsledder
• Arnold Gehlke: American former professional basketball player
• Jakob Gehlicke: German bicycle racer
• Helmut Gehlicke: German former rower
• Helmut Gehlicke Jr.: German rower and two-time Olympic champion
• Fritz Gehlicke: German rower and Olympic champion
• Erich Gehlicke: German former cyclist and rowing coach
• Bernd Gehlicke: German rower
• Dietrich Gehlicke: German rower
• Hans-Jürgen Gehlicke: German rower
• Hannes Gehlicke: German rower
• Horst Gehlicke: German rower

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