Surname Grelka - Meaning and Origin

Grelka: What does the surname Grelka mean?

The last name Grelka is believed to have Slavic origins. It is derived from the Slavic word 'grel', which translates as 'scream'. The name likely originated as a nickname for someone with a loud voice, or as an occupational name for someone who yelled for customers or hawked goods. It might also have been used to describe someone with a quarrelsome nature.

The Grelkas are found in many parts of the world including Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Germany, United States and Canada. The surname can take various forms such as Grelke, Grelkev, Grelky, Grelko and Grelkovich. It can also be seen as Gretl or Gretel in Austrian and Bavarian regions.

The Grelkas are a prominent family in Russia with a long and storied history. They are known to have held high positions in the government and their influence spread throughout Russian society. Many members of the Grelka family were also influential in the world of literature, art and culture, and are credited for the establishment of many rich Slavic traditions.

The Grelkas have a proud legacy and tradition of striving for excellence in whatever endeavor they take on. Today they are seen as strong, determined and resilient, as well as well-rounded individuals with strong values and moral standards.

Overall, Grelka is a Slavic surname evocative of strength, courage and ambition. It is a reminder of the importance of working together to create a better future, as demonstrated by the many generations of Grelkas that have come before us.

Grelka: Where does the name Grelka come from?

The last name Grelka is not a very common name today, but does have a few geographic concentrations. The most well-known concentration is in Poland. According to the Polish Census of 2002, over 13,000 people with the surname Grelka were living in the country. This makes it one of the one hundred most common surnames in the country. Beyond Poland, there are smaller populations in Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine and Russia.

In terms of emigration patterns from Poland, particularly around the time of World War Two, individuals with the last name Grelka likely left the country. Records show paths of emigration to places such as the United States, western Europe, Canada, and even Paraguay. As such, there may be additional populations of Grelkas in some or all of these places.

Large genealogical databases also exist which help to trace the source and movement of the Grelka surname over time. These databases may indicate additional places and regions of origin and concentrations of the surname, in addition to what is listed here.

Overall, while Grelka is not a particularly common surname today, its geographic concentrations and potential places of origin may still exist around the world.

Variations of the surname Grelka

The surname Grelka has several variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

Variants of Grelka include Gralka, Grelke, Grizzelka, Gralke, Grilka, Grelka, Grizelek, Grzela, Grzele, Grilke, Grzelak and Griel.

Grelka is a Polish, Czech, Slovak, and Ukrainian surname which is likely of a Germanic origin. The root of the name is most likely "grel" which translates to "frightful" or "awe-inspiring".

Spellings of Grelka include Gralke, Graekel, Graelke, Graelke, Grecelka, Grecelke, Griezlek, Grielka and Grielke.

In the United States, Grelka is sometimes seen as surnames of Germanic origin, likely derived from the surname "Grigelka" or "Griglič". The spelling can be influenced by the Germanic, Slavic, and Yiddish language which means the name can sometimes appear as Griglic, Griglič, Griglik, Griglka, and Griglke.

Other surnames with the same origin as Grelka are Grzela, Gralek, Grzelecki, Grzelak, Gryzlek, Grzelka, and Grzelewski.

When translated into English, Grelka can be seen as Grizlek, Griglic, Gritzlek, and Grizlak.

Famous people with the name Grelka

• Patrick Grelka: Patrick Grelka is an American football offensive lineman who was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 1989 NFL Draft.
• Miriam Grelka: Miriam Grelka is a professional cyclist from the Netherlands who has competed in several international races.
• Kazimierz Grelka: Kazimierz Grelka is a Polish politician who served as minister of finance from 2002 until 2004.
• Jerry Grelka: Jerry Grelka is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC's bantamweight division.
• Stanisław Grelka: Stanisław Grelka was a Polish nationalist, government official, and originator of the idea of the restructuring of the Polish territories annexed by Russia.
• Grace Grelka: Grace Grelka is an American actress best known for her roles in such films as The Devil and Daddy and Detective David Walker.
• Adam Grelka: Adam Grelka is a Polish-born cinematographer, datacine technician, motion control engineer, and photographer.
• Marcin Grelka: Marcin Grelka is a former Polish National Football Team goalkeeper.
• Helmut Grelka: Helmut Grelka was a German mixed-media artist from the late-20th and early-21st centuries.
• Jenny Grelka: Jenny Grelka is a former ice hockey player who played for the New York Riveters in the National Women's Hockey League.

Other surnames

Grelke