Surname Gollub - Meaning and Origin

Gollub: What does the surname Gollub mean?

The last name Gollub is a variant spelling of the Jewish last name Golub. The name is derived from the Yiddish word "gol" which means "pigeon," "dove," or "ular." Historically, the name often referred to a bird-seller, birds being popularly kept and sold in Ashkenazi communities.

In the 19th century, the Golub surname became a common Jewish surname in the Russian Empire. During this time, the Golub surname was popularly adopted by many Jewish families living in various towns and regions of Russia. It is believed that the name was likely chosen because most of the names associated with Jewish people were already well-established in Poland, thus making the selection of a new name difficult for Jews immigrating into Russia.

The last name Golub is most common in Eastern Europe, but is also known to be found in places like the United States and Canada. Random House Dictionary states that in modern times, the name could also be a modern combination of the Hebrew words "Gili" meaning "happiness" and "Lubavitch" meaning "city of love", thus making it a joyful place.

In short, Gollub is a Jewish last name that likely originated in the Russian Empire in the 19th century. It is derived from the Yiddish word "gol," which means "pigeon," "dove," or "ular." The name is most commonly found in Eastern Europe and is believed to be a combination of the Hebrew words "Gili" and "Lubavitch," meaning "happiness" and "city of love," respectively.

Gollub: Where does the name Gollub come from?

The surname Gollub is most commonly associated with the Jewish diaspora, specifically those with Ashkenazi Jewish heritage. Its history originates from the Middle High German “Golleb”, meaning “gold” or “golden-haired,” which was adopted by those of Jewish faith living in Germany during the late Middle Ages. Today, the surname Gollub is found throughout most of Europe. Specifically, it is a very common surname in the countries of Austria, Germany, Netherlands and Poland. In America, the surname Gollub can be more difficult to find, though people with the surname are scattered throughout different states. The most common states with people of the surname Gollub are Pennsylvania, New York, California, Connecticut, Illinois and Florida. Although this surname is not as common in the US as it is in Europe, there is still a sizable population found throughout the states.

Variations of the surname Gollub

The surname Gollub is an Ashkenazic Jewish surname that has its origins in Central and Eastern Europe. The name is derived from the Yiddish word gollub, which means “little bird”. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin are Golub, Golob, Golab, and Goleb.

Golub is the most common variant of the name Gollub. It is most often used in Russia and is derived from the Hebrew word golove, meaning “skull”. Golub is usually pronounced with a hard ‘k’ sound, making it closely resemble the English word ‘cub’.

Golob is another variant of this surname, usually seen in Hungary and other parts of Eastern Europe. This variant tends to be pronounced with a ‘b’ sound like the English word ‘lob’.

Golab is an alternate spelling and is pronounced with a ‘b’ sound like the English word ‘slab’. It is commonly seen in Yiddish speaking communities and was traditionally used in Galicia (Poland and Western Ukraine).

Goleb is a rare surname variant of Gollub, usually in the Ukraine and Belarus. This variant tends to be pronounced with a ‘b’ sound like the English word ‘gable’.

Many of these variants and spellings have evolved into distinct surnames with their own variants. These include, but are not limited to, Goldub, Golup, and Golovkin, among many others.

Famous people with the name Gollub

• Martin Gollub: Martin Gollub (born 1938) is a German painter, draughtsman and graphic artist who is primarily known for his landscapes and his depictions of nature.
• Ernst Gollub: Ernst Gollub (1886-1974), was an Austrian painter best known for his genre and landscape paintings.
• Julien Gollub: Julien Gollub (born 1983) is a French violinist who has featured in several recordings with various artists.
• Paul Gollub: Paul Gollub (died 1967) was a German-Jewish banker who was a prominent figure in Jewish financial circles in Europe before World War II.
• Max Gollub: Max Gollub (1885–1947) was an American screenwriter and film director. He directed a number of films, mostly comedies, for Columbia Pictures during the sound era.
• Stephen Gollub: Stephen Gollub (born 1955) is an American physicist known for his work in particle physics. He is a professor of Physics at Williams College and a fellow of the American Physical Society.
• Hermann Gollub: Hermann Gollub (1893–1970) was a German-Jewish theologian and philosopher who wrote extensively on questions relating to religion and philosophy.
• Ricardo Gollub: Ricardo Gollub (born 1948) is a Brazilian television presenter who is best known for hosting the long-running show ‘Fala Brasil’ from 1982-1992.
• Annie Gollub: Annie Gollub (born 1953) is an American musician and songwriter known for her folk music. She has released a number of albums and has performed at various festivals around the US.

Other surnames

Gollup