Surname Gerlich - Meaning and Origin
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Gerlich: What does the surname Gerlich mean?
The last name Gerlich is a German surname derived from the personal name Gerlich, derived from the Germanic name Gernot. It is speculated that Gernot originated from the Germanic elements gern, meaning "yearning" or "desire," combined with hild, meaning "battle." In its earliest form, Gerlich was a patronymic surname, meaning "son of Gernot."
The surname Gerlich often came to be known as a local name from a place called Gerlich in Bavaria, Germany, where the ancestral line of the Gerlich family was once established. Records of this place name date back to 1296, where it had the name Gerelikhein.
Gerlich descendants can be found in most parts of Germany, as well as in many parts of Europe and abroad. Today, the surname is common in Central European countries like Austria and Germany, as well as in Eastern and Southern Europe and in some parts of North America.
The meaning of the Gerlich surname is not known definitively; however, it is believed to reference the Germanic element gern, meaning "yearning" or "desire," combined with hild, meaning "battle." This indicates a warrior spirit and strength of mind, and likely an adventurous and ambitious nature, as well. As the surname evolved over the centuries, it came to be recognized as a testament to the enduring spirit and strength of the family’s ancestors. In modern times, the name Gerlich carries on the legacy of the family’s founders.
Order DNA origin analysisGerlich: Where does the name Gerlich come from?
The last name Gerlich is most commonly found in Germany. It originates from the Middle High German language and was likely found in regions such as Austria, Hungary, and Switzerland, as well as parts of the Czech Republic, during the Middle Ages. It is also found in other parts of Europe like Poland and Luxembourg.
Today, Gerlich is still a relatively common surname in Germany, but it is less common in other countries such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It is also found in small pockets around the world, such as in eastern Europe and South America. In Germany, it is most common in the Rhineland region, as well as in the southwestern states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria.
Germany has the highest population of those with the surname Gerlich, which is estimated to be around 7,969 people. In the United States, the surname is estimated to be around 2,622 people, with the highest concentration located in New York, Wisconsin, and California. Overall, the surname is still quite common in some parts of the world, however, its prevalence is minimal in comparison to other countries.
Variations of the surname Gerlich
The Gerlich surname is an old German family name derived from the personal name Gerlich or Görlich. It is also known by numerous spelling variants, including Gerlach, Görlach, Gorlack, Gurlach, Görlick, Görlitz, Gierlichs, and Gorlich.
The spelling of the name has varied throughout time, based on local dialects and migrations of the family representatives. The Görlach variant is mainly found in northern Germany, while Gurlach is primarily seen in southern Germany. In some parts of Europe, the letter k may replace the German letter c, hence the Gorlack variant. Similarly, the Polish spelling of the name may be spelled as Gierlichs, with a different variation of the letter c than the German variant.
Due to the migratory habits of the family, the surnames Gerlich, Görlach, and Gurlach may also be encountered in Central and Eastern Europe, specifically in Czechoslovakia, Slovakia, Hungary, and Serbia.
The Gerlich surname is also related to the surnames Görlich and Gorlich. This is due to the frequent affirmation of the name by German families that bore the name Gerlich, which later became corrupted into the other two surnames. These surnames are commonly found in Austria and Bavaria.
Overall, the Gerlich surname is a German family name with a long history, which is seen in its many derivatives and variants. In countries and localities around Germany, Gerlich has been spelled in numerous ways; however, all of these variations are still recognizably the same surname.
Famous people with the name Gerlich
- Dieter Gerlich: is a German scientist whose research focused on the fields of organic and physical chemistry.
- Christian Gottfried Gerlach: was a German scholar of Lusatian Sorbian and Slavic linguistics.
- Andrea Gerlich: is a German professional tennis player.
- Oskar Gerlach: was a German engineer, industrialist and arms merchant.
- Stephan Gerlich: is a German luger who has competed since 1996.
- Ingo Gerlich: a German film director and screenwriter.
- Bernard Gerlich: was a German pharmacist, botanist, and plant collector.
- Paul C.W. Gerlich: was a German military officer in World War I.
- Katrin Gerlich: is a German climber, mountaineer and mountain guide.
- Nicole Gerlich: is a German competitive figure skater.
- Krista Gerlich: is a former German basketball player and the current head coach of the women's basketball team at the University of Texas at Arlington.
- Anna Gerlich: is a German historian of science and professor at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.
- Uwe Gerlich: is a German high jumper who competed in the 1990s for the German Democratic Republic.
- Konrad Gerlich: was a German poet and dramatist.
- Sarah Gerlich: is an American professional basketball player.
- Heike Gerlich: is a German Leistungssport coach and former racer cyclist.
- Tagli Gerlich: is a German music producer and freelance composer.