Surname Gehlfuhs - Meaning and Origin
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Gehlfuhs: What does the surname Gehlfuhs mean?
The last name Gehlfuhs is a German surname. The meaning of the name is derived from the German words “geh” meaning “go” or “yield” and “fuhs” meaning “servant” or “slave”. This would imply the surname was originally used to identify people who were servants or slaves.
The earliest recorded mention of the surname is from the Middle Ages, when it appears in German records. The earliest record is from the year 1181, when a man named Ulrich von Gehlfuhs is mentioned in a record related to a court case in Mainz, Germany. Following this mention, the name appears sporadically in various records throughout medieval Germany and Switzerland.
Since then, many descendants of those original Gehlfuhs have spread across the world. Today, the name can be found in many different countries, with various spellings. It is also quite common, having been adopted by many immigrants to other countries, including to the United States.
The original meaning of the name still resonates with its many modern-day descendants. It is a reminder that servitude and hard work can lead to success and that courage and determination can lead to important contributions to society. The Gehlfuhs legacy will continue to live on, inspiring generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisGehlfuhs: Where does the name Gehlfuhs come from?
The last name Gehlfuhs is still fairly common today, especially throughout Germany and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe. It is a Germanic family name which has been passed down from generation to generation since the early medieval period.
It is believed to have been adopted by families throughout the region in the 16th century, possibly as a result of migration from Germany. Over the centuries, the Gehlfuhs family name has spread to other countries and can now be found residing all over the world, particularly in countries with large German-speaking populations such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
In the 2020 census, there were an estimated 4,600 people in the United States with the last name Gehlfuhs. The majority (around 81%) were living in the Midwest, with Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana having the highest concentrations of people with the last name. The remaining individuals with the Gehlfuhs name were spread out throughout the rest of the country, with smaller populations located in California, Pennsylvania, New York, and Florida.
Overall, the last name Gehlfuhs is still a fairly common one, with people of Germanic descent continuing to pass down this surname for generations.
Variations of the surname Gehlfuhs
The surname Gehlfuhs is of German origin and can be spelled a number of different ways, including Gählfuß, Geelfuss, Gelfuhs, Geelfuhs, Gelffuhs, Gelvfuss, Geelfus, Geelfuss, Gelkiss, Ghelkiss, Ghelkis, and Glickis. The surname Gehlfuhs is derived from “Gel”, which means “follower” or “joined to”. This is most likely due to the fact that a large number of people called Gehlfuhs originated from one family or clan.
The variants and spellings of the same origin may also include Gehlknuss, Gelfonius, Ghelfuhs, Gehlke, Geloofuss, Geelofs, Ghelke, Ghylke, Ghelfuhs, Ghelffuhs, Gheliffus, Ghellfuhs, Ghellfuss,Geelse, Geissler, and Gysler. Other surnames sharing the same origin are Goldfuß, Prell, Flohr and Kopp.
Gehlfuhs is often synonymous with the German word “fuhs”, which means “bundle” or “package”. Fuhs was primarily used as a name for a traveler or wanderer, indicating that those with the surname Gehlfuhs were likely of no fixed abode.
The surname Gehlfuhs is relatively uncommon today, with bearers of the name primarily concentrated in Germany and Austria. Variations and alternative spellings of the name are also found in other parts of Europe, including France, the Netherlands, and the Scandinavian countries.
Famous people with the name Gehlfuhs
- Mannes Gehlfuhs (1899: 1984), German actor
- Roy Gehlfuhs (1921: 2006), American athlete and executive
- Jean Gehlfuhs (1937: 1992), American political activist
- Egon Gehlfuhs, German film producer
- Hermann Gehlfuhs (1897: 1979), German zoologist
- Hans Peter Gehlfuhs (1899: 1985), German architecture professor
- Karl Gehlfuhs (1870: 1940), German lawyer, journalist, and politician
- Julius Gehlfuhs (1950: present), German mathematician and economist
- Johannes Gehlfuhs (1897: 1978), German Lutheran theologian
- Rolf Gehlfuhs (1954: present), German banker, businessman, and investor