Surname Gawell - Meaning and Origin
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Gawell: What does the surname Gawell mean?
The last name Gawell is of English and Scottish origin. In England, it is believed to have come from the Old English personal name Gafolwealh. In Scotland, Gawell is thought to have come from the Gaelic personal name Goffgall, with the translation of either “bold foreigner” or “proud foreigner.”
Gawell may have also been derived from a locality in Yorkshire, England. It has evolved from the Old English phrase Gafolwaelle which roughly translates to “an enclosure of tribute or taxes.” The Gawell surname has expanded to several different spellings over the years including Gawall, Gawel, and Gawill.
Today, the Gawell surname is sometimes seen as an Americanized form of the German name Gable or as a variation of the Irish name Gallagher. It can be found in multiple regions throughout the United States, including New York, California, and Pennsylvania.
Maybe because of the origin of its many forms, Gawell has come to represent different ideas and traits depending on its location. In the United States, the Gawell surname likely suggests strength, resolve, and adaptability, likely due to the hardships associated with the many immigrants who brought the surname to American shores.
Order DNA origin analysisGawell: Where does the name Gawell come from?
The last name Gawell is primarily found in the United Kingdom, where it is most concentrated in England. In Scotland, the name is uncommon but still found primarily in Monifieth, Angus. Overseas, the name can be found in parts of Australia, Canada, and the United States, especially in the states with the larger British immigrant populations like Florida, California, and New York.
In England, the name is most commonly found in the south, specifically in the counties of Surrey, Kent, and Hampshire. Those with the surname in England tend to be descended from the Anglo-Saxons. The Gawells of Essex are said to have been among the first settlers of the area in the 13th century.
In the United States, the last name is most commonly found in states that have historically had a high degree of British immigration like Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine. These states were home to most of the British who settled in the United States in the colonial period.
In Canada, the name is most commonly found in Nova Scotia, where it was brought over by United Empire Loyalists who left the United States after the American Revolution.
The last name Gawell is still common in the above countries today, although it is considered a relatively uncommon surname.
Variations of the surname Gawell
Gawell is an English surname with multiple variants, spellings, and related surnames. Variations of the surname that appear in records include Gowell, Gowl, Goul, Gohell, Goll, Goall, and Gawell, among others.
Gowell is likely the most common variant and is often seen in records of British ancestry. Its spelling likely stems from dialectal shifts and pronunciation when the surname was first used in England. The spelling is often expressed as Goul or Goall in records found elsewhere, such as in North America and Scotland.
Gowl and Goll are also spelling variants found in records of British ancestry. While the spelling might be slightly different, research into the surname suggests both of these variations have the same origin as Gawell.
The Gawell surname is also seen in records with different spellings, such as Gohell or Gohul. It is believed that these spellings are derived from translations from languages other than English. For example, a variant of the surname, Gahol, likely derives from Ga Africus meaning "son of Africa."
Finally, Gawell and its various forms have been used as the basis for a number of other surnames. These surnames, also of British origin, include Gawler, Gorgell, Gahler, Gorrell, and Goell.
It’s worth noting that different variants of the Gawell name may not have the same origin and may have originally been different surnames completely. However, due to phonetic variations, dialectical shifts, and varied translations of foreign languages, the various spellings are often seen in records of the same family.
Famous people with the name Gawell
- Jon Gawell: an American actor, best known for his contributions to short films like Trilogy: Afterlife, The Voice Within and No Enemies.
- Nick Gawell: a British television presenter and YouTuber who runs the popular show The Nick Gawell Experience.
- Barry Gawell: an American boxer, best known for his participation in the 19th Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where he won a Silver Medal in the Middleweight division.
- Ruth Gawell: a Canadian voice actress, who has worked on several animated series, such as ReBoot, Invader Zim and Dragon Ball Z.
- Sam Gawell: an English footballer, who played for AFC Wimbledon in the National League and the Football League between 2018 and 2020.
- Stephen Gawell: an American artist, who is renowned for his abstract oil paintings, which have been featured in various exhibitions around the world.
- Victoria Gawell: a British author, who has written several books and short stories, such as The Sleeping Reporter and The Road to Clarity.
- William Gawell: an American movie director, best known for his work on critically acclaimed films like Chew, Stepbrothers and The Devil's Lullaby.
- Jamse Gawell: a Canadian artist, who specialized in the art of photography, and was awarded the Karsh Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2020.
- Tristan Gawell: a British actor, who is best known for playing the roles of the Raven and the Jester in the television series Game of Thrones.