Surname Gfeller - Meaning and Origin

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How often do you get the chance to peer directly into your past, to see the strands of humanity that weaved together to bring you into existence? This happened to me after my iGENEA DNA test, unexpectedly unearthing some surprising turns about my lineage and the story behind my Gfeller surname.

G. Gfeller

Gfeller: What does the surname Gfeller mean?

The surname Gfeller is a German occupational surname. The name originates from the Old High German language, and it is derived from the word “Held” meaning “hero” or “defender”. As such, it would have been used to refer to a person who was a champion, a defender of a cause, or someone who held a courageous leadership position.

The Gfeller surname is also believed to have originated as a topographic name, from locations in North Eastern Germany, such as “Geffel”, a village in Bavaria. This could indicate that people with the surname were of German heritage.

Today, the Gfeller surname encompasses a wide range of family histories and cultures, including those of German, Swiss, and French descent. This versatility makes it hard to pinpoint an exact origin of the surname.

Some of the notable people who have carried the surname Gfeller include Steve Gfeller, an American professional softball player; Mark Gfeller, a Swiss professional volleyball player; and Roland Gfeller, a Swiss musician.

Overall, the Gfeller surname is a symbol of strength, courage, and perseverance, as it has been passed down over centuries and across cultures since its inception in Old High German linguistic origins.

Gfeller: Where does the name Gfeller come from?

The surname Gfeller is predominantly found in Germany today. The name is derived from the Old High German word “gifal”, meaning “enclosure”. As a result, the name likely originated as a toponymic surname for someone living near a fortification, wall or boundary. It is also possible that the name Gfeller initially referred to someone who lived near a fenced area.

The earliest known record of the Gfeller surname is from 13th century Germany and the name was brought to America in the 1700s, mainly by German immigrants from the Palatinate. Since then, the surname has spread throughout the United States and Canada. Today, Gfeller is overwhelmingly the most common in Germany, with the highest concentration found in Austria and Switzerland. In the United States, the surname is common in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan, with solutions in other states.

It is also worth noting that Gfeller is sometimes spelled as Gfellers or Gofeller. These spelling variations stem from both phonetic evolution and the spelling conventions of different language regions.

Variations of the surname Gfeller

The spelling and surnames of Gfeller originate from a family name originating in Switzerland. The Gfeller surname is believed to have its roots in the old Swiss cantons of Glarus and Schwyz.

Most commonly, the surnames derivatives of Gfeller include Gfell, Fell, Gafner, Gäffer, Geffel, Gheffel, Ghee, Gehl, Gfäll, Guehl, Geffel, Geffler, Gefele, Gaffeler, Geffl, Giffel, Giffler and Guehl.

Variations on the Gfeller surname which have appeared in countries including the US, Canada, Germany, Austria and Italy include Gfeller, Gsellar, Gtinkel, Gsell, Geller, GfellerGäf, GfellerGäfler and GfellerGäfer.

Due to the Gfeller surname being so widespread, numerous alternative spellings have arisen as a result of phonetic spelling of the name over time, including Geffle, Geffler, Gefler, Gfer, Gferu, Giefer, Geffl, Geffler, Ghafel, Giffel and Gfelle.

Aside from the original forms of Gfeller, it is likely many other variants will continue to emerge as more and more variants of the surname become recorded.

Famous people with the name Gfeller

• Kai Gfeller: German Actor
• Jörg Gfeller: Swiss footballer and a Manager of FC Winterthur
• Tim Gfeller: German ice hockey player
• Henning Gfeller: German Footballer
• Johannes Gfeller: Swiss Hammer Thrower
• Georg Gfeller: Swiss hammer thrower
• Michael Gfeller: Swiss Wrestler
• Charles Gfeller: American politician and bankers
• Gilberte Gfeller: French snowboarder
• Urs Gfeller: Swiss Motocross and Enduro racer

Other surnames

GfellGfellner