Surname Gelon - Meaning and Origin
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Gelon: What does the surname Gelon mean?
Gelon is a surname that is of French origin. It’s believed to have originated from the Old French term “gelé” which is an archaic form of the verb “geler” which means to freeze or congeal. Consequently, it’s possible that the surname was once used to refer to a person who worked with frozen materials, such as one who was an ice merchant.
Gelon is thought to be a variant of the French names Guillon, Guellon, Geollon, and Gueleon. These names can be traced back to the Middle French word “guellon”, which was itself derived from the Latin word “galleus”, meaning helmet. Furthermore, it could be a variant of the French surname Jolyon, which was also derived from an ancient French word with connections to the Latin word for helmet.
Today, the surname is found in various countries around the world, including both France and the United States. In the US, Gelon is most commonly found within families that have French ancestry, while in France it remains primarily concentrated in the south and in the Paris region.
Regardless of its origins, the surname Gelon gives its bearer a sense of connection to a rich cultural heritage and carries with it an endearing name that will live on for generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisGelon: Where does the name Gelon come from?
The last name Gelon is most common in Mediterranean countries such as Italy and Spain. It is also seen in the restricted pockets in some parts of Switzerland, Austria, and France.
The Italian origin of the Gelon surname can be traced back to the 11th century and is derived from the Latin word ‘gillonis’ which means ‘governor’. Two prominent families bearing the name can be located in Sicily, one near Castelmola and the other near Alimena. In Spain, the variants Gelón and Gelonch (which is even more widespread) are found in Catalonia, Valencia, and Zaragoza.
As far as the US is concerned, the surname Gelon is not particularly common. Although, in the 19th century, many Italians emigrated to America and people with the Gelon surname now appear on the census. They are mainly scattered around California, Massachusetts, New York, Florida, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
In the UK, a handful of families appear to have emigrated over time, and the surnames are to be found in regional birth, death, and marriage records.
Overall, the surname Gelon is still relatively uncommon in most of the western world, however, it remains a popular name in its native Mediterranean countries.
Variations of the surname Gelon
The surname Gelon has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The various spellings include Gellen, Geleno, Gellenon, Gelen, Geloun, Gelhoun, Gelonou, and Geleon. This surname is often thought to be of French origin, with some theorizing it to be a variant of the French surname Gellon or a variant of the Italian name Gelloni.
Gellen is the most often seen version of the surname. This spelling could have been a slight variation developed in order to fit the phonetic spelling of the family name over generations. Alternatively, French researchers speculated that Gellen could have come from the French name "Gèle" which is thought to mean frost or chill and be related to a nickname for someone with a cool disposition.
Geleno and Gellenon are sometimes seen as another variation of the family name. However, it is not clear if Geleno or Gellenon are exactly the same name or a different name altogether. It has been suggested that Geleno or Gellenon might be a softened variation of Gellon, giving rise to the conclusion that it could either be a separate name or a variant of Gellen.
Finally, Gelhoun, Gelonou, Geleon, and Geloun are all spellings and surnames of the same origin as Gelon. The origin and meaning behind these spellings is still unknown and it is uncertain from which language or spelling they were taken. Despite these uncertainties, all of the variants, spellings, and surnames of Gelon likely have a fascinating history and a shared ancestral origin.
Famous people with the name Gelon
- Josh Gelon: American comedian and actor best known for his LowBrowComedy podcast
- Bob Gelon: American soccer coach who coached the Chicago Fire Soccer Club
- Heidi Gelon: American author and editor
- Dale Gelon: American football defensive back and return specialist
- Rob Gelon: Former professional baseball player in the Montreal Expos organization
- Logan Gelon: Former NBA player for the Chicago Bulls
- Miikka Gelon: Finnish professional ice hockey forward
- Tory Gelon: Australian football (soccer) defender
- Katelyn Gelon: American Television personality and eSports competitor
- Michael Gelon: Former American executive and chief executive officer of Pillsbury Company.