Surname Gomersal - Meaning and Origin

Gomersal: What does the surname Gomersal mean?

Gomersal is a locational surname from an area in West Yorkshire, England. It is based on the old English words ‘Gumaer’ and ‘sæl’ which can be translated to mean 'home at the pool or stream'. Gomersal also originated as a topographical name - referring to someone from a specific location - and the area of Gomersal is now thought to refer to the township that makes up a part of the modern-day village of Cleckheaton.

Gomersal is mainly known for its strong wool-making industry, which was prominent in the mid-1700s and eventually led to the development of the town and its rise in importance by the 19th century. Textile-making soon evolved to become the main industry of the town and the skills of Gomersal’s inhabitants were widely sought-after.

Today, Gomersal and the surrounding areas are known for their popular heritage sites, such as Oakwell Hall and Country Park, as well as the Bradford and Calderdale Canal, which can be found in the village.

The Gomersal surname can also refer to those who originate from the area, as well as achieving fame from other areas in Yorkshire such as Leeds, Huddersfield, and Wakefield. Notable people bearing the Gomersal name include the prominent 19th century merchant, Thomas Craven, who was responsible for the growth of the town, as well as a number of other leading figures in industry, politics, and the church.

Gomersal: Where does the name Gomersal come from?

The last name Gomersal is most common today in the United Kingdom. Specifically, Gomersal is known to be a surname in the West Yorkshire area of England, primarily in the towns of Cleckheaton, Birstall, and Dewsbury. According to the United Kingdom census, Gomersal is the 154th most common surname in England with around 108 people sharing the name. It is likely Gomersal has been in Yorkshire since the 1600s when surnames became more formalized.

Research suggests the name Gomersal originated from the Old English words for 'Slope on the hill/ridge' as the West Yorkshire area is surrounded by hills. Gomersal is sometimes spelled Gomersall or Gomersale, though the spelling of the name varies. Most people with the surname Gomersal are related to the same small pool of people. This suggests that Gomersal is an occupational surname, which might have been derived from someone who had specific duties relating to land or property in the West Yorkshire area.

The name Gomersal is still popular today in Yorkshire, but is not common outside of the United Kingdom.

Variations of the surname Gomersal

The surname Gomersal is of English origin and is believed to have originated from Gomersall in West Yorkshire, England. Gomersal is a local name derived from ‘Gomer’s hill’. Variations of this surname include Gomersall, Gomersale, Gomershall and Gomershul. Other spellings of this surname are Gombrill, Guomersall, Gommersall, Gommersole, Gommersolle, Gommersell, Gommerselly, Gommersellys, Gomorsale and Gomershore.

Gomersal can also be found as a first name and occasionally as a middle name. Derived from English elements, the olympian god Gomer, plus ‘halh,’ meaning ‘hillside or nook in a field,’ the meaning of the name Gomersal is ‘dweller at Gomer’s hill.’

Although the spelling variants of the surname Gomersal are quite unique and interesting, the commonisation of the surname began when immigrants arrived in the United States and Canada in the 19th and 20th centuries. Many of the immigrants changed the spelling of their name and some forms of the name have since become extinct. Gommersol briefly replaced Gomersall as the preferred spelling during the 19th century in some areas, but the original spelling seems to be the most common today.

Surnames derived from the same origin as Gomersal include Gibbs, Cosgrove, Hamersley, Hockings, Siddal, Geddes and Grayshan. As the surname traveled to different parts of the world, variations of the spelling and lesser known surnames arose, such as Gomersoll, Gommersole, Gombrall, Gombrille and Gomarsall.

In conclusion, the surname Gomersal has a range of variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin, which can be found either with slight spellings changes or more complex surnames as the name has traveled around the world.

Famous people with the name Gomersal

• Neal Gomersal: an English football player who has appeared for Woking, Watton United, and Thetford Town.
• Richie Gomersal: a professional rugby union player who had 73 international caps for the England national rugby union team before retiring in 2003.
• Stephanie Gomersal: an artist who creates modern abstract art pieces.
• Graham Gomersal: a former race car driver who won the 2006 Shanghai 24 Hours endurance race.
• Michael Gomersal: a visual artist and film director whose films have played in over forty festivals, won awards, and have been released on DVD.
• Ezra Gomersal: an English cricketer who played matches for Middlesex County Cricket Club and the Marylebone Cricket Club.
• Violet Gomersal: a British politician who served as an MP at the House of Commons from 1855 to 1857.
• Robert Gomersal: a British Army officer who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during the Crimean War.
• Joyce Gomersal: an actress and a writer who wrote several books and appeared in productions like animated series Camp Lazlo, TV series 7th Heaven, and films like Deep Impact.
• Rod Gomersal: a children’s author who has won several awards in Australia for his books, including the 2000 Seacrest Award.

Other surnames

GomersallGomersellGomerson