Find out how popular the last name Gjelaj is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Gjelaj.

Gjelaj, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Gjelaj surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gjelaj in America

Gjelaj is the 83541st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gjelaj surname appeared 225 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Gjelaj.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gjelaj to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Gjelaj

The surname Gjelaj originates from Albania, a country located in the Balkan Peninsula of Southeastern Europe. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 14th or 15th century. The name is derived from the Albanian word "gjelë," which means "thorny bush" or "bramble."

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Gjelaj can be traced back to various regions of Albania, particularly in the northern and central parts of the country. The name was often associated with families residing in rural areas or villages surrounded by thorny bushes or brambles, indicating a possible connection to the land or a specific geographical location.

Historical records and manuscripts from the Ottoman Empire, which ruled over parts of Albania for several centuries, have shown instances of the Gjelaj surname. These documents, such as tax registers and property records, provide valuable insights into the presence and distribution of the name during that time period.

One notable figure bearing the Gjelaj surname was Prenk Gjelaj, a 19th-century Albanian patriot and military leader who played a significant role in the Albanian National Awakening movement. He was born in the village of Gjelaj, near the city of Shkodër, in 1831 and passed away in 1890.

Another prominent individual with the Gjelaj surname was Mihal Gjelaj, a 20th-century Albanian writer and politician. He was born in 1917 in the village of Gjelaj and was actively involved in the communist movement in Albania. Mihal Gjelaj served as a member of the Politburo of the Albanian Party of Labour and contributed to the country's literary scene.

In the realm of sports, Loro Gjelaj, an Albanian footballer, made a name for himself in the 1980s and 1990s. He played as a defender for various clubs, including KF Tirana and KF Vllaznia Shkodër, and was also a member of the Albanian national football team.

The Gjelaj surname can also be found in other parts of the Balkans, such as Kosovo and North Macedonia, where Albanian communities have historically resided. While the name's roots can be traced back to Albania, it has spread to neighboring regions due to migration and cultural exchange.

Variations in the spelling of the surname, such as Gjelajaj or Gjelaji, have been observed in different regions and historical records. These variations often reflect regional dialects or linguistic adaptations over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gjelaj

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Gjelaj.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Gjelaj was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Gjelaj has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Gjelaj was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Gjelaj, please contact us.

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