Surname Geely - Meaning and Origin
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Geely: What does the surname Geely mean?
Geely is an anglicized form of the Chinese name “Gui Li,” meaning “honorable and righteous.” The surname originated from the Han Dynasty (206-220 AD) when leaders of a prominent family adopted it as their family name.
The Geely family name has followed a prominent journey throughout history. In the 9th century, a Geely family migrated to Zhejiang province, and later during the Duong Dynasty (906-969 AD), members of this family were ranked as officials in government.
In modern day, the Geely family name still carries a lot of weight and is held in high esteem. Geely remains one of the top ten most common surnames throughout China, and beyond. It also remains popular in several other Asian countries like Taiwan and South Korea.
In business, the Geely family name now stands for something quite different. In 1986, Li Shufu, a Chinese entrepreneur, founded Geely Automobile, known for producing affordable cars in China. And in 2010, Geely acquired the Swedish carmaker Volvo.
Today, the Geely name is synonymous with quality, affordability and innovation. For centuries, the Geely family name has been associated with honor, wisdom, and eminent respect. Now with its high-profile success in the business world, it is a name that is increasingly known not just to Chinese citizens, but to people throughout the world.
Order DNA origin analysisGeely: Where does the name Geely come from?
The last name Geely is most commonly found in China and Sweden today. This popular surname was originally found in Scotland and Northern Ireland in the 19th century and from there spread to other parts of Europe.
In China, the last name Geely is most commonly associated with the Geely vehicle group, a Chinese automotive company based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. The name derives from the Chinese characters for ‘Lucky’. Founded in 1986, Geely has been an important player in the Chinese automotive industry for decades and remains one of the largest independent automakers in the world.
In Sweden, the name Geely is most commonly associated with SAAB Geely Automobile AB, an automotive manufacturer founded in 2014 as a joint venture between Saab AB and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, the parent company of Geely Automobile. The company is based in Trollhättan, Sweden and produces cars under both the Saab and Geely brands.
The last name Geely is therefore strongly associated with the automotive industry in many parts of the world today, particularly in China and Sweden.
Variations of the surname Geely
The surname Geely is an anglicised form of the Irish name Mac Giolla Easpaig, with variants MacGilly, MacGillie, MacGillespick, and McGerley. This name is derived from the Irish patronymic name Mac Giolla Easpaig, meaning 'son of the devotee of Espaic'.
The main spelling variants include Gilly, Gillie, Gylly, Gheely, Gheeley, Gealey, Gialley, Gille, Geillie, Gill, Gelle, Geeley, Gilli, Geelie, Geel and Geill.
The most common variants in Ireland and Scotland are McGilly, McGilley, MacGillespick and McGerley.
In England, Geeley is the most common variant, with Geeley, Gilli, and Gheel also being used.
In the U.S., Geeley is the most used spelling, while Geelee and Geel are also seen.
In Australia, the most common variant is Gille, with Gille, Gillery, Gillea and Geley also being used.
Geeley, Gheeley, Gill and Geelee are also used widely in South Africa.
Variants of Mac Giolla Easpaig, such as Gell and Gillespie, are also seen in countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
The Gelly surname, derived from the Welsh personal name Gellchall, is also thought to be related to the Geely surname.
Famous people with the name Geely
- Li Shufu: Chinese automotive business magnate and billionaire considered the pioneer of China's modern automotive industry.
- Li Xiang: Chinese entrepreneur and the founder of Chehejia (Chezhibao), a sharing mobility platform.
- Wang Geely: Chinese entrepreneur and the founder and chairman of Geely Group, a global automotive and mobility company utilizing innovative technologies to make mobility more accessible and convenient for everyone.
- Li Jian: Chinese engineer, entrepreneur, and the founder of Geely Automobile.
- Li Yinan: Chinese entrepreneur and the current president of Geely Automobile Holdings, responsible for driving Geely's continued growth in markets around the world.
- Lü Weimin: Chinese automotive designer and executive of Geely Auto.
- Gui Shengyue: Chinese entrepreneur and the founder and former chairman of Geely Automobile.
- Saab Geely: American singer-songwriter and musician, best known as a member of the alternative rock duo Grouplove.
- Bo Geely: Member of the American rock band Grouplove, for which he is the lead singer.
- Margaret Geely: Australian painter with a distinctive style of ethereal Nightscapes.
- Reid Geely: Canadian filmmaker, known for his work on the award-winning drama series Nurses.