Surname Gmelich - Meaning and Origin

Gmelich: What does the surname Gmelich mean?

The surname Gmelich is of German origin and belongs to the local surname category. It is derived from the personal name 'Gmel', which is an old diminutive of the given name 'Gemot' or 'Gemund' (in present-day German 'Gemunden'). The meaning of the name is believed to be 'the protector of the meeting place, war camp or assembly', or perhaps 'the protector of rights' or 'the one who makes and maintains peace' The original bearer of the name was likely a person who held this responsibility in some kind of primitive society, tribe, or village.

In some cases, the surname Gmelich may also have been derived from the Old High German word 'Gemelic', meaning 'twin'. This does not appear to be the case in all instances, however. Gmelich was and is still a fairly common surname in parts of Germany. Although its origin may be obscure, it is a recognizable name there.

The Gmelich family was likely one of several German families which both immigrated to other countries and spread outward to places like the United States. Today, the name Gmelich is associated with Germany and found in many parts of the world. It is less common in the United States than it is in Germany, but still a recognizable name.

Gmelich: Where does the name Gmelich come from?

The last name Gmelich is primarily found in German-speaking countries today. In Germany, it is relatively common, particularly in the southwest of the country. Gmelich is also found in Liechtenstein, Austria, Switzerland, and Denmark, but it is far less common in these nations than it is in Germany. In 2019, the German phone directory Das Telefonbuch listed more than 600 people with the surname Gmelich living across Germany. Additionally, the European surname database Forebears estimated that approximately 400 people with the last name Gmelich were living in Germany in 2020.

Although the Gmelich surname is more common in German-speaking countries, it is found around the world. A notable example is Henry Gmelich, a prominent attorney from Texas in the United States. Gmelich has also been documented in countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Venezuela, and Mozambique.

Given the widespread distribution of the Gmelich surname, it is likely that individuals with the name are related to one another, either directly or through an ancient family line. As more information about the history of the Gmelich surname is uncovered, the links between families with the name may become clearer.

Variations of the surname Gmelich

The surname Gmelich is of German origin and is derived from the word ‘gamel’, which in turn is derived from the Latin word ‘gama’ meaning ‘to marry’. This surname is also found in Austria, Switzerland and Czech Republic. Variants of the surname include Gmelig, Gamelich, Gammelich, Gamlic, Gmelik and Gamlich.

Spellings can also vary considerably, including Gamelich, Gameligh, Gammelich, Gammeligh, Gamlich, Gammlic, Gamlich, Gmeligh, Gmelik, Gmellich, Gmilich and Gmulich.

The surname can also be found under various surnames such as Gmhelich, Gmühlich, Gmülich, Gmüllich, Gmulich and Gmullich.

Alternative spellings can also be found including Gammelig, Gammlic, Gmilic and Gmullich.

All of these surname variants and spellings can all be traced back to the German origin of the name. The spelling and pronunciation have changed over the years, to form the many different spellings that are seen today.

Famous people with the name Gmelich

• Mark Gmelich: Mark is a Republican politician and ex-mayor of Fullerton, California.
• Doug Gmelich: Doug is a scientist at the US Geological Survey.
• Robert Gmelich: Robert is an American sculptor and artist.
• Ryan Gmelich: Ryan is a criminal defense attorney in Arizona.
• Edward Gmelich: Edward is a former United States Army soldier and decorated veteran.
• Donald Gmelich: Donald is a former American football player.
• Michael Gmelich: Michael is a former American college basketball coach.
• Keith Gmelich: Keith is a former professor of marketing and advertising at Michigan State University.
• William Gmelich: William is a retired United States Coast Guard admiral.
• Franklin Gmelich: Franklin is a former mayor of Berkeley, California.
• Renae Gmelich: Renae is a former American figure skater and current coach.
• George Gmelich: George is an American musician, composer and arranger.

Other surnames

GmelinGmeling