Surname Gween - Meaning and Origin
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Gween: What does the surname Gween mean?
The last name Gween is of Welsh origins and is found quite infrequently in the United States. The name is derived from the Welsh word "gwaun," meaning "moor" or "wild grassland." This is a testament to the Welsh heritage of the Gween family, which is further supported by the prevalence of the esteemed Welsh surname Powell within their lineage. As many Welsh surnames, Gween also has several possible spellings that include Gwion, Gwinn, Gwinnen, and Gwynn.
The name is believed to have first been seen in Powys in the 15th century, where it was used to represent local landowners. Based on records from the same time period, the Gween family is likely connected to the village of Corndale, near Welshpool—a town outside of Shropshire in mid-Wales.
Today, the distinct Welsh surname Gween continues to be passed down through many generations of families in the United States. While it is not widespread, it is seen in a few locations, such as Massachusetts and Rhode Island. As such, many families proudly wear the name as a symbol of their rich Welsh heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisGween: Where does the name Gween come from?
The last name Gween is most commonly found in England and parts of Europe, particularly in Northern Germany and Estonia. It is an Anglicized version of the German and Dutch given name Günther, which is derived from the Old High German name Gunt herd, meaning “brave army” or “bold warrior”. The surname has spread primarily with the migration of Germanic and Dutch settlers to England, beginning in the late 16th century.
Within England, the Gween surname is particularly common in the North and Midlands regions, where it has enjoyed a long-standing presence. In the 1881 census, the highest population levels of the name Gween were recorded in Derbyshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, and Shropshire.
The Gween surname is also seen in other parts of the world, particularly the United States, South Africa, Canada, and Australia. The name is often seen with variant spellings such as Guen, Gwinn, Gwynn, and Gweyn, among others.
Today, individuals bearing the last name Gween can be found scattered across many countries, primarily in Europe and the Anglosphere, but also in more remote parts of the world such as South America and the Middle East.
Variations of the surname Gween
The surname Gween is commonly thought to have originated from the Celtic word "gwyne," which means "white." This surname can be spelled in many different ways, such as Gween, Gwynne, Gwyne, Gwyen, and Gwinn. These alternate spellings spread with people of the surname as they moved throughout the world.
Each origin of the surname Gween could have slightly different spellings as well. In England the variations could be Gweene, Gwinn or Gwyn, while in Wales, the variations could be Gwyne or Gwyen. In Scotland, the variations could be Gweyne, Gweyne or Gwiin. In Ireland, the variations can be Gween, Gwynne, Gwynn or Gwine.
In addition to different spelling, the surname Gween also has several variants. Variant forms of Gween include Gwin, Guyn, Gwinne, and Gwine. Gwin and Guyn are likely derived from the Welsh pronunciation of the name Gwyne, while Gwinne and Gwine could be represent what the name would look like if it was spelled phonetically or translated into different languages.
The surname Gween also has a range of other spellings and variants derived from the surname. These include Gwein, Gwinn, Gweene, Gweyne, Gwyen, Gwine, Gwinn, Gwyn, Gwynn, Gwine, Gwynne, Gwenn and Gwen.
While similar in spelling, the surname Gween is distinct from the surname Gheen, which is of German origin. The German surname Gheen, which was derived from the given name "Gustav," is a variant of Gunn.
Famous people with the name Gween
- Shawn Gween: Actor who has appeared in films such as Bad Boys II, Get Hard and Little Nicky.
- Glen Gween: Grammy-nominated rock musician, former lead vocalist and songwriter for the group the Gin Blossoms.
- Paul Gween: Actor best known for his roles in the films The Green Mile and O Brother, Where Art Thou?
- Mark Gween: British race car driver, winner of the 1992 British Touring Car Championship.
- Michelle Gween: Singer with the all-female rock band the Donnas.
- Nate Gween: Former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox.
- Lucas Gween: Professional tennis player from the United States.
- Joe Gween: Retired NBA player who played four seasons for the Chicago Bulls.
- Cara Gween: Television and Broadway actress best known for her roles in the shows Rear Window and Kings.
- Ben Gween: Acclaimed American playwright who wrote the Pulitzer-prize winning play Side Man.