Surname Girlich - Meaning and Origin
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Girlich: What does the surname Girlich mean?
The last name Girlich is of German origin and is most commonly found in Germany and Switzerland. It is a patronymic name, meaning it was originally derived from the personal name of the progenitor of the family. The progenitor of the Girlich family likely had the first name "Girig," which was an old Germanic name derived from the elements "gern," meaning willing or eager, and "wig," meaning battle. Together, these elements suggest a meaning of "eager or willing in battle."
Girlich is a very old family name, and likely originated during the Middle Ages when Europe was divided into many smaller fiefdoms. During this time, loyalty to one's lord was paramount and warriors would fight with zeal to protect their magnates. It is possible that the progenitor of the Girlich family was a valiant warrior who demonstrated his willingness to fight for his lord in battle, thus earning the nickname "Girig" or "Girigwig" (one who is willing in battle) and subsequently passing down this surname to his descendants.
Today, the surname Girlich is uncommon, but the descendants of those who bore it continue to enjoy its rich history. It serves as a reminder of the courage and loyalty of the family's ancestors and the strength and perseverance of their descendants.
Order DNA origin analysisGirlich: Where does the name Girlich come from?
Girlich is a surname of German origin, indicating someone originally from the village of Girlich, which is located in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is not especially common today, although people bearing the name are scattered across Germany, the United States, and other countries around the world.
According to the United States census of 2010, a total of 45 people (or 0.00016% of the population) listed Girlich as their surname, with the largest concentration (12 individuals) living in Illinois. As for Germany, there were a total of 606 people reported in the 2020 census with the Girlich surname, with the majority living in North Rhine-Westphalia.
However, Girlich is likely found in more countries than just Germany and the United States. A few decades ago, a fair number of people with the Girlich name likely immigrated to the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries looking for new opportunities. While exact figures are hard to come by, girlich descendants no doubt exist in small numbers all over the world today.
Variations of the surname Girlich
The surname Girlich is of German origin, and is derived from the German cities and towns of Görlitz, Goerlitz, Görliz, Görlitze or Görlitzen. It is believed to have developed in the Middle Ages, possibly from the Germanic word "gudilich" which could have meant "near the river" or "river dweller".
The surname Girlich has many variants, spellings, and surnames, including Goerlich, Goerlitz, Goerlits, Görlitz, Gaerlich, Garlich, Gorlich, Gerelitz, Gerlich, Görlitzer, Görllitzer, Gorlitz, Brothers and other variations.
Some other interesting German-origin surnames derived from the same root are Girlly, Gillich, Goerlich, Gorlee, Gurlitz, Gurlit, Gurle, Karny.
In the United States, those with the Girlich surname may have anglicized it to Garris, Gerner, Giersch, Geary, Girsh, Kern, Kerns, Karny, Korn, or Corne. Common variations in other countries include Gierlich, Gaerlich, Garlitz, Gorlitz, Geerkens, Gessner, Gebrecht, Gehrlich, and Görgers.
In some cases it is spelled the same, yet spoken differently: Gurlich in Germany, Gorlich in Austria or Switzerland, and Girlly in France and the Netherlandish regions.
Famous people with the name Girlich
- John Girlich: American Actor, best known for his roles in films such as "A Few Good Men" (1992) and "Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters" (2013).
- Avery Girlich: American Professional Soccer Player, currently playing for Sky Blue FC in the National Women's Soccer League.
- Jeff Girlich: American composer and producer, winner of ten ASCAP awards and Grammy nominee in 2007.
- Edward Girlich: American lawyer and entrepreneur, founder and CEO of TheGirlichLawFirm, a law practice in California.
- Eric Girlich: American author, best known for his novel "The Sixth Sense" and for his work on Pixar films.
- Steven Girlich: American voice actor, best known for his roles in the animated series "The Wild Thornberrys" and "Friends".
- Patricia Girlich: American singer and songwriter, best known for her hit single "All I Ask of You", which topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in 1985.
- Alexander Girlich: Russian actor and producer, best known for starring in the movie "War and Peace" (1966) and for his role in the series "Moscow Journeys" (1986-1996).
- Peter Girlich: American football player, most recently playing for Los Angeles Chargers in the NFL.
- Shannon Girlich: American actress, best known for her work on the ABC sitcom "Happy Endings" and the Netflix series "Grace & Frankie".