Surname Gom - Meaning and Origin
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Gom: What does the surname Gom mean?
The last name Gom is believed to be of German and Anglo-Saxon origin. It likely began as an occupational surname, referring to someone who worked in a forge as a smithy or in a foundry. In some cases, it also may have been derived from the Old English word gamen meaning “game” or “sport.”
Gom is an uncommonly used surname and is not often seen on public records. Despite its rarity, Gom families have spread throughout the UK, the US, and other countries. In the United States, it is most commonly found in the New England and Mideast region, particularly Pennsylvania and Maryland.
The earliest recorded person bearing the surname Gom is Thomas Gome, who was born in Wiltshire, England in 1591. In England, the surname Gom is primarily found in Thames, near London.
Gom is a proud surname and the people who bear it have a strong sense of identity. Family members often display loyalty to their heritage and take pride in their Gom heritage. In addition, many of the values and traditions that have been passed down from generations are at the core of the Gom identity. These include a strong belief in care and respect for one another, support for each other in difficult times, and appreciation for individual talent and progress.
Order DNA origin analysisGom: Where does the name Gom come from?
The last name Gom is most commonly found in the Mediterranean countries of Spain, Italy, and Portugal. It is also found in smaller numbers in countries throughout Europe and in former Spanish colonies in Latin America, including Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, and Argentina. The Spanish form, Gom, is a toponymic name derived from the Occitan language of southern France and Catalonia. It is usually found in either its original Occitan form or its Castilianized form, Gómez. The Italian variant, Goma, is likely derived from the same etymological origins but by different means.
Gom is believed to have originated as an occupational surname referring to a tiler or raparee — a kind of tax collector. Alternative theories attribute the name to a noble Italian family of Lombardi in the 12th century. The surname can still be found among descendants in Italy today and is particularly common in the region of Sicily.
The surname has spread across the globe as a result of immigration and has been widely adapted and assimilated with different spellings in many countries. For example, the earliest instances in England date to the 16th century as Gomes and Gomez, with some records spelled with more Eastern European variants such as Gomolka or Gomberg. In the United States, the surname is most commonly found as Gomez.
Variations of the surname Gom
Gom is a surname of Jewish origin, primarily found among the Ashkenazi Jews living in Eastern Europe.
Gom can be spelled in a variety of ways, including Gomel, Gomelsky, Gimpel, Gomelskiy, Gomol, and Gomel. There are also variants of the name in other languages and countries, such as Gemel in Germany, Gomel in Russia, and Gomeliak in Poland.
In most cases, Gom is a matronymic surname, which means it was derived from a mother’s given name. In some cases, the name Gom is derived from the Hebrew word Gomel, which means “full” or “elite.”
Due to intermarriage between Ashkenazi Jews and other groups, there are many non-Jewish variants of the Gom surname. In the United Kingdom, for example, Gom may be found as the Anglicized form of the Irish surname O'Gomor, which means “son of Gomor.” In France, the name may have also come from the Norman surname Gome or Gomes, which is derived from the Old French given name Gomer.
In Canada, the surname Gom may be a derivative of the French-Canadian surname Gomme, which generally is thought to come from the Old French gome, meaning “select” or “well-chosen.”
Lastly, some families bearing the Gom surname may be of German origin, with the name coming from the Lutheran spelling of the name Gomel, a variant of the biblical place name Gomer (son of Japheth).
Famous people with the name Gom
- Federico Gomá Lanz, Spanish academic, a member of the Royal Academy of History
- José Gomá Llompart, Spanish politician and lawyer
- Mikel Gomá, Spanish hurdler
- James Goméz, American actor and producer
- Manuel Goméz Gómez, Spanish journalist
- Vital Goméz, Spanish philosopher
- Amelia Vega Goméz, Dominican actress
- Jérôme Gomis, French basketball player
- Francisco Goméz Caravaca, Spanish football player
- Bruno Goméz, Venezuelan football player