Surname Gelman - Meaning and Origin
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Gelman: What does the surname Gelman mean?
Gelman is a surname of Ashkenazi Jewish origin. It is derived from the Yiddish word "gel," meaning "yellow." The addition of the suffix "man" could denote a characterization or profession, implying interpretations such as "a man of yellow" or "yellow man". The moniker might have been initially given to someone with yellow or blond hair. Surnames that depict physical characteristics were common amongst Ashkenazi Jews. The surname has been widely carried in many Eastern European countries and has spread around the globe due to immigration. Surnames like Gelman not only link individuals to geographical areas but also provide a sense of shared heritage. Please note that meanings can vary and not all individuals with the surname may indeed have this particular origin.
Order DNA origin analysisGelman: Where does the name Gelman come from?
The surname Gelman has origins in Eastern European Jewish tradition, specifically from the regions now known as Poland, Russia and Belarus. Gelman is a patronymic name formed by the Yiddish personal name "Gel(e)", meaning "light" or "lamp", and the suffix "-man", indicating "son of". Thus, Gelman can be interpreted as "son of Gel". In some cases, the name Gelman could also have been derived from the Polish town of Gielnia, and thus be a topographic surname. Today, the surname Gelman is common in countries that saw significant Jewish immigration, including the United States, Canada, and Israel. It’s important to note, though, that the distribution of the name is not limited to these locations. With global divergence, the surname Gelman can be found scattered throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Gelman
The surname Gelman is of Jewish Ashkenazic origin. Variants and spellings may include Gellman, Geltman, Gelmann, Geltmann, Gilmann, Gelmon, and Gylman. The name is a patronymic form of the Yiddish personal name "Gella" or "Gelle", which means 'light' or 'brightness.' Variations could occur based on regional dialects, phonetic translations, and personal preference.
The surname could be further anglicized upon immigration to English-speaking countries and thus might have even more variants. For example, in the United States, some families might have changed the name to Goldman or Goodman for simplicity or to help with assimilation. Similarly, families moving to France or other French-speaking countries might spell it as Guillaume.
The surname could also have variants based on rules of Yiddish or Hebrew grammar. For instance, some names might have the "man" suffix changed to "men" to reflect a plural or collective meaning; this would generate a name like Gellmen or Geltmen.
Tracking the exact spelling, variant, or surname in a family lineage would likely require detailed genealogical research.
Famous people with the name Gelman
- Rhea Jo Perlman is an American actress, best known for her role as Carla Tortelli on the sitcom "Cheers." She was married to actor Danny Devito for over 30 years, and her maiden name is Gelman.
- Michael Gelman is a television producer, known for his role as executive producer of the daytime talk show "Live! with Kelly and Ryan."
- Kathie Lee Gifford (born Kathie Lee Epstein) is an American television presenter and singer-songwriter. She was married to sportscaster and former NFL player Frank Gifford, and happens to be half Jewish with her mother’s maiden name being Gelman.
- Laura J. Gelman is a senior director at the National Basketball Association (NBA).
- Samuel Gelman is a well-known oncologist specializing in breast cancer. He used to work at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
- Irina Gelman, is the Commissioner of Health for Orange County, New York.
- Lee Everett Alkin (real name Leigh Rachel Faith Gelman) is a voice actress and casting director.
- Jedediah Gelman is a notable industrial designer and founder of the Kitchen Utensils company Dreamfarm.
- Matt Gelman is a Microsoft Corporate Vice President responsible for the company's U.S. Government Affairs team.
- Ricarda Gelman is a German photographer and art collector. She founded the Gelman collection, one of the most important collections of Mexican art in the world.