Surname Gundlich - Meaning and Origin

Gundlich: What does the surname Gundlich mean?

The last name Gundlich is a German surname of unknown origin. While there is no definitive answer to the meaning of the surname, two possibilities have been suggested.

One suggestion is that the name derives from the Middle High German word 'gundeloch', meaning a 'narrow pass or gorge' - possibly referring to someone who lived near such a landscape feature. Alternatively, the surname may be derived from the Middle High German word 'gunden', meaning 'to battle' or 'to fight'. This could be an reference to one's occupation, suggesting someone who was a soldier or mercenary.

What is certain is that the Gundlich name is quite an uncommon one in Germany, with very few people carrying the surname. It is thought to be mainly concentrated in the northern parts of the country, with most families originating from the area around Dusseldorf.

The name is still relatively rare in the United States today, but there have been Gundlich families in the US since the late 1800s, mainly along the east coast. It is possible that some of those families may now also be found in other parts of the country.

Gundlich: Where does the name Gundlich come from?

The last name Gundlich is found most commonly in European countries today. Germany, Austria, and Slovakia all have populations with a sizeable share. In the German-speaking world, Gundlich is a variation of the name Gündel, which itself evolved out of the Old High German cognomen Gundal. In Austria, Gundlich is also associated with the name Gündel, prevalent in the eastern and Styrian regions.

In Slovakia, Gundlich, spelt as Gúndlich, is generally found in historical records from the former kingdom of Hungary as of the eighteenth century. Today, the last name is preserved in many Slovak towns and villages.

Outside of Europe, the name is much less common. It can be found among German-born settler and immigrant communities in North and South America, North Africa, Southeast Asia, and Australia. In Canada, there are many records of the Gündel variation, mostly concentrated in the Prairie Provinces.

Although much rarer, the Gundlich name has a presence in other corners of the world, from the United States to New Zealand and even Uganda. All in all, it is safe to say that the last name Gundlich is found most prevalently in the German-speaking regions of Europe, but also with a small but notable presence in other parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Gundlich

Gundlich is a surname originating in Germany, and it can have several variants, spellings, and related surnames. It can be spelled as "Goendlich," "Goendelich," "Goendtliche," "Goentlich," "Goentlich," "Goendlich," or "Gündlich." There are also related surnames such as "Gondlich," "Gundt," "Güntlich," "Guntzlich," "Guntzle," "Guntlisberg," and "Güntlisperger."

Gundlich is a patronymic name, originating from the given name Gundeloh, derived from the Germanic elements gund, which means "war" or "battle," and lohh, meaning "famous figure." Thus, the original meaning of Gundlich was "famous throughout the war" and was originally found as a given name in Germany.

It is not uncommon for surnames to change slightly when migrated to a different country due to misspellings or intentional changes for various reasons. As such, Gundlich may also be seen as "Gundelich," "Gundlach," "Gundel," "Gendel," or "Gentel" in various countries.

Gundlich is an uncommon surname today, but can still be found around the world, primarily in Germany, the United States, Canada, and Austria.

Famous people with the name Gundlich

• Ulrike Gundlich: Ulrike Gundlich is a German act-chest and theater director who has worked in numerous theater and television productions since beginning her career in 1992.
• André Gundlich: André Gundlich is a former German footballer who played as a forward for Schalke 04, Kaiserslautern, and 1. FC Kaiserslautern in the Bundesliga.
• Helene Gundlich: Helene Gundlich is a German sculptor and painter who has held numerous exhibitions in Germany, the United States, and elsewhere.
• Louise Gundlich: Louise Gundlich is a German soprano and cabaret artist with an expansive repertoire that ranges from classical music to light comic Clara Schumann songs.
• Gottfried Gundlich: Gottfried Gundlich was a German musician and organist who wrote tunes and music for the Lutheran church.
• An elastic Gundlich: An elastic Gundlich is a German fashion designer whose designs have been featured in magazines such as Vogue and Elle.
• Wilfried Gundlich: Wilfried Gundlich was a German news presenter and journalist who worked for the ZDF television network.
• Günter Gundlich: Günter Gundlich was a German portrait photographer and the Director of the Photography Museum in Rheine.
• Peter Gundlich: Peter Gundlich is a German musician, composer, and arranger who has released three solo albums and has written for television and film.
• Johann Gundlich: Johann Gundlich was a German surgeon and scientist who wrote extensively about anatomy and surgical techniques.

Other surnames

GundlingGündling