Surname Gzela - Meaning and Origin

Gzela: What does the surname Gzela mean?

The origin and meaning of the last name Gzela is uncertain. It is likely to be derived from the Polish personal name Gzyb and to mean “of Gzyb” or “of Gzyba”. This suggests that the original bearer was either the son or descendant of a person by the name of Gzyb. It may also have to do with a Polish word meaning ‘sentry’, ‘person in charge’ or ‘protector’.

Gzela is a less common surname; it is mainly found in Poland and the United States. The most common variations of this name are Gzell, Gzyl, Gzil and Gzull. It is believed to have originated in the northern and western regions of Poland.

In Poland, some individuals with the Gzela name can trace their ancestry back to the Kashubians, an ethnic group that has endured a turbulent history. The Kashubians date back to ancient times and have roots in northern Poland, present-day Germany, and other nearby regions.

Besides Poland, the surname Gzela can also be found in the United States. Immigrants from Poland began arriving in America in the 19th and early 20th centuries and it is likely that some of them carried the Gzela surname with them.

The Gzela name is not as widespread as some other Polish surnames. Partly as a result it has maintained its identity, which makes it special and unique.

Gzela: Where does the name Gzela come from?

The last name Gzela can be found most commonly in Poland and Belarus today.

In Poland, it can be found mainly in the areas of Podlascze, Malopolska, and Lesser Poland, with the largest concentration of Gzela's found in Warsaw. Gzela is also a popular surname in Belarus, with many Gzelas still living in the Grodno region.

Most of the Gzelas throughout Europe, however, are thought to have originated in the region of Kurpie, Poland during the early Middle Ages. This is believed because of the findings from a research project conducted in 2014 in which family coat of arms of Gzela were found among the Kurpie clan leaders of that time.

The Gzela surname has also been found in past records in many other parts of Europe, such as Lithuania, Hungary, Germany, Slovakia, and the Ukraine. However, these records can be difficult to ascertain since records were not kept consistently over the past few centuries, and due to the influences of population migrations and permutations after the fall of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1795 and the Holocaust of World War II.

These days, Gzela's are scattered around the world, but the greatest populations of Gzelas still reside in Poland and Belarus, staying true to their original roots.

Variations of the surname Gzela

The surname Gzela is of Polish origin and its variants, spellings and surnames all share the same root. The most common variant of the surname is Gzell, although other variants such as Gazela, Gzyl, and Gozdziewicz can also be found throughout Europe. The variants of Gzela usually include the softening of the "G" sound, with Gzella, Gzils, and Gazella being common spellings of the surname. Additionally, the addition of suffixes such as ‘ski’ and ‘cki’ are also found among these families.

The surname Gzela can also be found with distinguishing additions such as Gzela-Stolarz, Gzela-Paluch, Gzela-Czech, Gzela-Konieczny, Gzela-Rutkowski, Gzela-Majer, Gzela-Rajchel, Gzela-Kaminski, and Gzela-Zakrzewski. These variations of the surname were likely developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a way to distinguish various prominent branches of the family and help maintain their unique lineages.

Other versions of the surname Gzela include its Germanic form Gsell and its Latin form Gazella which can often be interchanged in some instances. Though Gzela is predominantly considered to be of Polish origin, its spread throughout Europe means that its variants and spellings can be found in many different countries. It is quite possible for those with Gzela as a surname to have distant relatives from many different parts of Europe with different spellings or variations of the surname.

Famous people with the name Gzela

• Krzysztof Gzela: Polish politician who was the Prime Minister of Poland from October 2005 to July 2006.
• Zbigniew Gzela: Polish former professional footballer who played as a striker. He is most famous for playing for clubs such as Arka Gdynia, Widzew Łódź, and Legia Warsaw.
• Stanisław Gzela: Polish graphic artist and woodblock printmaker who is known for his colorful, detailed works.
• Anna Gzela: Polish stage and screen actress. She is best known for her starring role in the 1965 comedy film “Wielki Szu”.
• Joanna Gzela-Burgund: Polish choral conductor, composer, and teacher. She is the founder of the Warsaw-based Chamber Choir “Ad Ventum”.
• Eliza Gzela: Polish singer, violinist, and composer. She is known for her performances of sacred music and folk songs.
• Piotr Gzela: Polish theater director, writer, journalist, and political activist. He was an important figure in the cultural revival of Poland after World War II.
• Jan Gzela: Polish painter, sculptor, and illustrator. He is known for his surrealist portraits.

Other surnames

Gzella