If you are a fan of Hollywood movies, you probably know who Jake Gyllenhaal is. He is an Oscar-nominated actor who has starred in films like Donnie Darko, Brokeback Mountain, Nightcrawler, and Spider-Man: Far From Home. He is also the younger brother of actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, who is known for her roles in The Dark Knight, Secretary, and The Deuce.
But have you ever heard of Randy Gyllenhaal? He is a reporter and multimedia journalist for NBC10 News in Philadelphia. He covers breaking news, crime, politics, and human interest stories. He has also won several awards for his work, including an Emmy and a Murrow.
So, are Randy and Jake related? Do they share the same ancestry? Is Gyllenhaal a common surname in America? In this article, we will try to answer these questions and reveal the truth behind the Gyllenhaal family name.
The Origin of the Gyllenhaal Name
According to Wikipedia, the name Gyllenhaal originated from Nils Gunnarsson Haal, who was a cavalry officer in Sweden in the 17th century. He was ennobled in 1652 with a change of name to Gyllenhaal, which means “golden hall” in Swedish. He was the ancestor of the Swedish noble family Gyllenhaal, which has a coat of arms hanging in the House of Nobility in Stockholm.
The last ancestor of Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal to be born in Sweden was their great-great-grandfather, Anders Leonard Gyllenhaal, who emigrated to the United States in 1865. He was a prominent member of the Swedenborgian Church, a Christian denomination that follows the teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg, a Swedish scientist and theologian.
Jake and Maggie’s father, Stephen Gyllenhaal, is a film director who was raised as a Swedenborgian. He is of Swedish and English descent. Their mother, Naomi Foner, is a film producer and screenwriter who is Jewish. She was born in New York City to an Ashkenazi Jewish family from Russia and Poland.
The Connection Between Randy and Jake
Randy Gyllenhaal is also a descendant of Nils Gunnarsson Haal, but from a different branch of the family. His ancestor was Hans Gyllenhaal, who was a younger brother of Lars Gyllenhaal, the ancestor of Jake and Maggie. Hans was a cavalry captain who was killed in action at the Battle of Helsingborg in 1710.
Randy’s father is Herman Gyllenhaal, who is a baron and the head of both branches of the noble family Gyllenhaal. He lives in Sweden and has a son named Lars. Randy’s mother is Susan Gyllenhaal, who is an American journalist and author. She lives in Chicago and has written several books on history and culture.
Randy was born in Los Angeles, California, but grew up in Chicago. He attended Elon University in North Carolina, where he studied journalism and political science. He started his career as a reporter for WPTZ News Channel 5 in Vermont. He then moved to NBC10 News in Philadelphia in 2013.
Randy and Jake are distant cousins who share the same surname and heritage. They have never met in person, but they have exchanged messages on social media. Randy once tweeted that he was proud of Jake’s performance in Nightcrawler. Jake replied that he was honored to share the name with Randy.
Conclusion
Randy Gyllenhaal and Jake Gyllenhaal are both successful journalists and actors who have made their mark in their respective fields. They are also related by blood, but not very closely. They are both descendants of Nils Gunnarsson Haal, who was ennobled as Gyllenhaal in Sweden in the 17th century. They belong to different branches of the noble family Gyllenhaal, which has roots in Sweden, England, Russia, Poland, and America. They have never met face to face, but they have shown respect and admiration for each other online. They are examples of how diverse and talented the Gyllenhaal family is.
