Surname Gellhar - Meaning and Origin

Gellhar: What does the surname Gellhar mean?

Gellhar is a rare surname, thought to be of German origin. It is not clear what the exact meaning of this surname is; however, some genealogists have made speculations based on the name’s simplest components. The first part of the name, “Gell”, is thought to be derived from the German word “gela”, which means border or edge. The final part “har,” is a suffix which is thought to mean either "man" or “overlord". Therefore, taken together, Gellhar could roughly translate as the “border ruler” or “edge overlord”.

Throughout the years, Gellhar families have spanned across the United States and Austria, with a small population currently living in the UK. The earliest recorded members of this family date back to 1862 when Johann Gellhar was baptized in Bavaria, Germany. This family experienced periods of immigration and emigration between Europe and the United States intermittently throughout the 1800s.

Given that the Gellhar surname is relatively rare today, the exact origin and meaning of this surname remain uncertain. However, while the origin may be difficult to identify it can be said with certainty that the Gellhar's have a rich and colorful history that requires further study to uncover.

Gellhar: Where does the name Gellhar come from?

The last name Gellhar is common today in communities of Germanic origin, particularly in countries such as Germany, Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.

Today, there are an estimated 8,800 people in the world who carry the surname Gellhar. It is a variant of Gellner, a name that originated in the Bavarian region of Germany. The origins of the Gellhar name can be traced back to the Bavarian dialect of German, with Gellhar originating as an occupational nickname for a person who felled trees.

In Germany, the Gellhar surname is most commonly found in the regions of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Rhineland-Palatinate. However, it is also found in many other regions of the country, such as Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia.

Austria is also home to many people with the surname Gellhar, with the largest concentrations of Gellhar family members being found in the states of Upper Austria, Lower Austria, and Vorarlberg.

In Hungary, the Gellhar surname is most heavily concentrated in the counties of Komarom-Esztergom, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, and Gyor-Moson-Sopron. In the Czech Republic, the Gellhar name is most commonly found in the South Moravian Region and in the larger cities of Prague and Brno.

Overall, the surname Gellhar is still relatively common today in communities of Germanic origin, with concentrations of the Gellhar family name being found throughout Germany, Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.

Variations of the surname Gellhar

Gellhar is a surname primarily found in the German and Jewish communities. It is believed to have evolved from a place name as many surnames of German and Jewish origin have.

Variants of Gellhar include Gehlhar, Gellert, Geller, Gellman, Geldhauer, Geltzer, Gelbart and Gelb. All of the variants have a similar origin and are considered variations of a single name.

The Gehlhar variant of Gellhar is the most widely used, and it is most commonly found in Germany. It is derived from the words 'Gehlen' and 'Har', which both mean 'wood' or 'hill'. It is believed that the Gehlhar surname originates from a location in Germany where there is a prominent wooded hill or a hill enclosed within a forest.

The Gellert spelling of Gellhar can be found in both Germany and Austria, and it is derived from a location near Vienna known as Geldern. Geller is a spelling primarily found in the United States amongst Jewish immigrants, and it is believed to have originated in Germany. Gellman is another variation of Gellhar that is found primarily amongst Ashkenazi Jews and is believed to have originated in Ukraine.

The Geldhauer variant is also found primarily in Germany, and is derived from the words 'Geld', which means 'money', and 'Hauer', which means 'hewer'. Geltzer is an Americanized spelling of Gellhar found mainly amongst American Jews and is believed to have originated from Germany. Gelbart and Gelb are two very similar variations of Gellhar mainly found in Europe and the United States.

In total, there are 8 variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Gellhar: Gehlhar, Gellert, Geller, Gellman, Geldhauer, Geltzer, Gelbart and Gelb.

Famous people with the name Gellhar

• Arthur Gellhar, Austrian Rabbi
• Alfred Gellhar, American Landscape Painter
• Devin Gellhar, American Pop Singer
• Bradley Gellhar, American Adventurer, Photographer & Filmmaker
• Harry Gellhar, American Football Player and Athlete
• Helga Gellhar, German Producer, Composer and Cinematographer
• Joe Gellhar, American Rapper
• Nancy Gellhar, American Politician
• Caroline Gellhar, Austrian Painter and Social Activist
• Erwin Gellhar, Austrian Actor, Composer and Producer

Other surnames

Gellhaar