indicate the level to which a name has been verified.
Type Surname (from location)
Usage Finnish (Rare)
Meaning & History
Derived from the name of the homestead Magnula in Kalanti (formerly Nykyrko) parish in southwest Finland. Magnula is thought to be associated with Latin magnus "large, big, great" and the name Gadolin is derived from Hebrew gadol with the same meaning. A notable bearer was Finnish chemist Johan Gadolin (1760-1852). The chemical element gadolinium (Gd) was named after him.