Surname Gelonnek - Meaning and Origin

Gelonnek: What does the surname Gelonnek mean?

The last name Gelonnek is of French origin. It is thought to be derived from the Middle French word gelon, which refers to a “gull” or “seagull". The name is thought to have been used as a nickname for one with a characteristic of the seagull, such as having a quivering voice or a migrating lifestyle.

In French, the name is sometimes spelled with an e at the end, as Gelonnec, and is sometimes anglicized to Gellonnec.

Gelonnek is a rare surname; there are only about 40 families in the United States who continue to use it. It is most commonly found in Louisiana, but has spread to other areas of the country, notably the Pacific Northwest.

Given the migratory history of the surname, it is possible that there are many ancestral branches that have gone unnoticed in public records. The precise origin and meaning of the name remain a mystery, although research suggests that it could be traced back to the Languedoc region in southern France.

Given its less-than-common nature, the name Gelonnek is likely to remain a reminder of the vast complexity of genealogical research — and of the exciting surprises that await those who choose to take on the task. Indeed, the Gelonnek family tree could, with the right effort, reveal generations of ancestral understanding.

Gelonnek: Where does the name Gelonnek come from?

The surname Gelonnek is found primarily within Canada, primarily within the province of Quebec. According to a 1990 report, the name was found in higher concentration in cities such as Sorel, Trois-Rivières, Montreal, and Quebec City. More recently, the surname has seen a bit of a decline in prevalence, with the number of households under the Gelonnek name having dropped from around 920 households in 1998, to 750 in 2019, according to data from Private Navigation Canada. Like many French surnames, the Gelonnek family traces its roots back to a small number of ancestors, namely a few individuals who had the same surname living in French-speaking Canadian colonies during the 1600s and 1700s, before the country of Canada was formed.

The Gelonnek family likely has its roots in the ancient French province of Lorraine, since the surname is composed of two common elements found in many other French surnames: gé- and -onnek or -onnet. This also explains the “gn” on the end of the name; it is a French spelling of the typical association of “nn” which is also found in other common French surnames.

Today, many Gelonnek’s are still living in the same region of Quebec, but also have spread out to other Canadian provinces such as Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, and bone marrows. Newfoundland and Labrador. Through Quebec’s diaspora, many Gelonnek’s have also ventured out of the country, to places such as the United States, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Although the surname Gelonnek is not all that common today, it certainly isn't a lost name. There are still dozens of families carrying the name, and those families have branched out around the world from Quebec’s home base. This speaks to the long history of the Gelonnek family in Canada and elsewhere.

Variations of the surname Gelonnek

The surname Gelonnek is of German origin and is also known in some spelling variants such as Gelonneck, Gelonnigk, Gelonnig, Gelonnike, Gelonen and Gnlonnick. The surname is also known in many other countries such as Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Poland and China.

In Belgium, the spelling of the Gelonnek surname might be quite similar to the German spelling, such as Gelonneck or Gelonnigk. In France, the spelling may vary a bit more, with a slight twist to the spelling Gelonnig. Here in The Netherlands, the name might appear as Gelonnick or Gnlonnick.

In Poland, the Gelonnek surname is sometimes found spelled as Gelonen; with the main feature of the name being the letter "l" followed by two "n"s. Lastly, in China, the surname is spelled as Gelonnike.

The name Gelonnek is also often seen anglicized to Gullonak, Gullonack or Gullonick.

Throughout its existence, the surname Gelonnek has seen various alternate spellings over the centuries. Thus, if you have this surname, you may find that your family has used a variety of spellings in different genealogical documents. It is important to take all of these variants into account when researching your history.

Famous people with the name Gelonnek

• Arminjon Gelonnek: Arminjon Gelonnek is a French high jumper who competed at the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics.
• Mickar Gelonnek: Mickar Gelonnek is a French footballer who currently plays as a defender for USL Dunkerque.
• Marie Gelonnek: Marie Gelonnek is a French former Olympic sprinter who specialized in the 100 and 200-meter distances.
• Thierry Gelonnek: Thierry Gelonnek is a French motorcycle racer who competes in the Supersport Cup.
• Thomas Gelonnek: Thomas Gelonnek is an American-born French sprint canoeist who competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
• Pablo Gelonnek: Pablo Gelonnek is a French tennis player who achieved a career-best junior ranking of No. 26 in the world.
• Antoine Gelonnek: Antoine Gelonnek is a French Paralympic sprinter and cyclist who competes in the T51 classification.
• Nicolae Gelonnek: Nicolae Gelonnek is a Romanian film and television director, known for his work on films such as Eu am un văr (I Have a Cousin) and Haina albastră (Blue Jacket).
• Maya Gelonnek: Maya Gelonnek is a Dutch-born actress and voice artist, known for her roles in films such as Jawbone, Open, and What a Wonderful World.
• Sergiu Gelonnek: Sergiu Gelonnek is a Moldovan footballer who plays as a forward for FC Nistru Otaci.

Other surnames

Gelonneck