Discover people named Jay Gatsby

The last name "Gatsby" is believed to have English origins, specifically linked to the region of East Sussex, where it is thought to derive from the Old English personal name "Gæstbeorht," meaning "bright guest." This surname may have originally been a locational name, indicating someone who hailed from a place associated with this name, possibly a village or estate. The meaning reflects characteristics of hospitality or prominence, suggesting that those who bore the name were likely involved in social or communal roles. Variations of the surname are relatively rare, but it may appear in different forms or spellings in historical records, such as "Gatby" or "Gatspie," depending on regional dialects and phonetic interpretations. The name gained modern cultural significance through F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby," which has contributed to its recognition beyond its historical roots. While the surname is not widely common today, its literary association has made it a point of interest in American culture.