Surname Gerlig - Meaning and Origin
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Gerlig: What does the surname Gerlig mean?
The surname Gerlig is of German, Swiss-German, and Dutch origin, and is an adapted form of the pre-medieval Germanic personal name Gerlinc, which is composed of two elements. The first element is the Germanic word “geri”, meaning spear, and the second element is “linc”, which means “link” or “bond”. Therefore, the name Gerlig can be translated to mean “Spear Bond” or “Spear Link”.
This surname was most likely adopted in the early Middle Ages, and has multiple spellings today. These spelling variations include Gerling, Gerlich, Gerlix, Gering and Gerlach. The earliest record of the surname dates back to the fifteenth century, when Hans Gerlig was recorded as being a Swiss citizen living in Zurich, in 1493.
Over the centuries, the surname Gerlig can be found in family histories and records throughout Europe. It is most common in Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, however, it can also be found in Britain and the United States. To this day, many descendents of the original Gerlig family bear the surname, and ensure its legacy lives on.
Order DNA origin analysisGerlig: Where does the name Gerlig come from?
The last name Gerlig is most commonly found in the Netherlands, with an estimated 5,500 individuals bearing this name. It is also found in scattered pockets around the world, including Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, the United States of America, and Argentina. Around 3,000 people with the surname Gerlig live in the Netherlands today, and it is particularly common in the provinces of Gelderland, Overijssel and North Holland.
In the United States, the surname is relatively rare. It can be found across the country, with the highest concentration in California. Meanwhile, a significant number of people carrying the name are also spread across sizeable populations in Florida, Texas, Illinois, New Jersey and New York.
In Argentina, more than 250 people with the surname Gerlig are now found living in the cities of Buenos Aires and La Plata, while there are a further 150-200 bearing the name in the region of Mendoza.
It is also possible to encounter the last name Gerlig in its more anglicized spelling variants such as Garlinger. As a result of these different spellings, it can be difficult to accurately assess how many people are now bearing the name.
Variations of the surname Gerlig
The surname Gerlig is thought to be an altered spelling of the German surname Gerlinger which is derived from the place name Gerlingen (Bavaria). This place name is derived from the Germanic term gerling, meaning an adult. Variations on the surname Gerlig include Gerlinger, Gerrling, Gerleing, Jorling, Gerrlingen, and Jerling. In some cases the spelling has been simplified to Geling or Gerling.
In other cases, combinations of the two spellings have occurred, such as Gerlinger being changed to Gerliger, or Gerrlingen to Gerlingen. Certain other variants, such as Gerlyng and Gerrlynge, are thought to be related to the Gerlig surname but are of a somewhat uncertain origin.
Other variants of the Gerlig surname include Gerwig, Girling, Gerwigk, Garling, and Garlingk. These are all names which are thought to be from the same original German term gerling.
In addition to the German spelling of the surname Gerlig, variations on the name can be found in other countries as well. In Italy, the surname is sometimes spelt Jorlig. In France is can be spelt Gerlieg. In the Netherlands the surname is often spelled Gerlin. In Sweden it can be spelt Gaerling.
Despite the various spellings, all these variations on the Gerlig surname have a common origin. Many of these variations have been passed to other countries, and today people around the world have this name.
Famous people with the name Gerlig
- Jürgen Gerling: Jürgen Gerling is a German economist and businessman, who is best known for being the founder and former chairman of the Gerling-Group Insurance companies.
- Tobias Gerling: Tobias Gerling is a German football player. He plays as a forward for VfL Bochum.
- Christine Gerling: Christine Gerling is a German First Lady (wife of politician Peter Ramsauer) and honorary chairwoman of the Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU).
- Paul Gerling: Paul Gerling was a German arm jurist and official of the Prussian state.
- Helga Gerling: Helga Gerling is a German politic person representing the Party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD).
- Henrik Gerlig: Henrik Gerlig is a German handball player active for VfL Gummersbach.
- Manfred Gerlig: Manfred Gerlig was a German painter. He used mainly the impressionist style to express his ideas and his modern paintings brought him recognition and fame.
- August Gerling: August Gerling was a German-American businessman, who is known for founding two breweries, the Schoeneberger Brewery in St. Louis and the August Gerling Brewery in New York City.
- Cäcilie Gerling-Dührkoop: Cäcilie Gerling-Dührkoop was a German writer and author of romantic novels.
- Ul Siber Gerling: Uli Siber Gerling is a german artist and entrepreneur, who is known for his sculptural work and entrepreneurship in the computer and video game industry.