Surname Gehlker - Meaning and Origin

Gehlker: What does the surname Gehlker mean?

The surname Gehlker is of German origin, derived from the geographical name Gehlhaar. Gehlhaar is a small village in Lower Saxony, Germany situated between Holzminden and Lingen. Gehlhaar translates to ‘hall of a mayor’, likely derived from a magistrate who lived in the area at some point in the past. It was likely that those living in the area took on the surname Gehlker, which is the Germanized version of the Gehlhaar name.

The name Gehlker is most common in German and Dutch speaking nations, particularly in Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Those with the surname Gehlker are likely of German or Dutch descent, and can trace their roots back to the Gehlhaar village located in Lower Saxony, Germany.

The Gehlker surname is a member of the larger German surname group of ‘hall’ surnames, so named because they originated from places where an official or mayor lived or worked. This group of surnames includes names such as Haller and Halberstadt, as well as many others.

Over time, the Gehlker surname has developed a number of variations, mostly related to spelling and pronunciation, including Gehlkerr, Gehlkor, Gehlke, Gehlkerd, Gehlkert, and Gehlkerf.

Overall, the surname Gehlker is a distinctively German name, likely derived from the small village located in Lower Saxony, Germany. Those with the surname, and its variations, were likely of German descent, and can trace their roots back to Gehlhaar.

Gehlker: Where does the name Gehlker come from?

The last name Gehlker is most commonly seen in German-speaking countries, especially in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. It is also seen in other parts of Europe, particularly in the Netherlands, where it is sometimes spelled Gehlcker. In America, there are records of the name as early as 1617 in Pennsylvania, although it is much less common in the United States than in Europe.

The Gehlker name is derived from the German word geheule, which means tearful, and ker, a suffix indicating a trade. Thus, the Ghelkers were originally a family of tradesmen. Because of this, many of them had businesses, such as bakeries, butchers, and taverns.

The Gehlker name can be found in a variety of spellings, including Gehlcker, Gehlke, and Gehlker. Most of these variations of the name still exist today, indicating that it is still a very common name in some places. Despite the fact that the name is not very common in the United States, it is still possible to find individuals with the Gehlker name scattered throughout the United States.

Variations of the surname Gehlker

Gehlker is a surname of German origin. It is derived from the name Gehl, which is derived from geheul, the old German word for “wolf”. It is also spelled as Gehlcker, Gehliker, or Gehlkker in various parts of Germany. In its alternate form it is spelled as Gelker, Gehleker, and Gelichker.

Gehlker can also be found as a variation of Gahlker, which can be traced back to the old German words gahl and gahle. It was typically used to indicate a person who came from a lush valley or from a forest. The name is most commonly encountered in southern Germany and in Austria.

Gehlker and its many variations may also be found as Gählker or even Gählichker and Gähleichker. These variations are often found in areas with a strong Frisian influence, such as the Netherlands and Northern Germany.

In America, the variants of Gehlker may be found spelled as Garlker, Killker, Illker, Geller, Geyer, Kehler, and Killman, among others. These are all derived from the original spelling and they vary depending on the language of origin. These American variants may also be encountered in Canada and Australia.

Famous people with the name Gehlker

• Steven Gehlker: Steven is an American business executive and author. He is the co-founder and Partner of G2 Capital Group and the Co-Chief Investment Officer of G2 Investment Strategies.
• Mark Gehlker: Mark is an American industrial designer and creative consultant. He is best known for his work with Ford Motor Company, Samsung, IBM, Nike, Panasonic and Hewlett Packard.
• Paul Gehlker: Paul is an American art historian and curator. He is currently the Director of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, overseeing collections, exhibitions, and programming.
• Gary Gehlker: Gary is an American entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and Managing Partner of G2 Capital Strategies, a private equity fund based in New York City.
• Bob Gehlker: Bob is an American songwriter and producer. He has written and produced songs for some of the world’s most iconic artists like Stevie Wonder, Sting, Bruno Mars, Mariah Carey, and Maceo Parker.
• Peter Gehlker: Peter is an American entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is the founder of several non-profit organizations, including Project HEALTH, a HIV/AIDS awareness and training initiative.
• Deb Gehlker: Deb is an American artist and sculptor. She is best known for her large-scale sandstone sculptures and hand-built ceramics. Her work has been featured in numerous galleries across the United States.
• Paul Gehlker Jr.: Paul is an American advocate for social justice. He is the President of the Gehlker Family Foundation, an organization committed to advancing social and economic justice in underserved communities.
• Beth Gehlker: Beth is an American trade specialist and strategist. She is the founder of TradeWise Strategies, a consultancy that provides trade strategy and market analysis to companies.

Other surnames

GehlkeGehlken