Surname Garlich - Meaning and Origin

Garlich: What does the surname Garlich mean?

Garlich (also spelled Garlich, Garlick, or Garlic) is an Anglo-Saxon name of Germanic origin. The surname was first recorded in 13th century records in Germany and Austria. It is derived from the Old Germanic word ‘garl’, meaning spear. This referred to someone armed with a spear, a hunter, or a squire.

The surname spread to England in the 12th century, during the period of Norman colonization. During this time, many Germanic surnames became anglicized, with the spelling Garlich becoming most common.

Garlich is found mainly in England, Germany, and Austria today. It is a very common name, with millions of people having a variant spelling of this surname. In England it is most common in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Yorkshire.

Within the family, Garlich may refer to a particular ancestor, in which case the first bearer of the name may have been a soldier, hunter, squire, or member of a noble family. Alternatively, it may be a nickname for someone who acted like a hunter or who was particularly fond of hunting.

In Scotland, the surname is often found spelled as Garlic or Garlick. It is found significantly more often in Scotland than England, and is also found in some of the other Celtic countries. Here, it can have the same meaning as in the countries where its origin lies.

Garlich: Where does the name Garlich come from?

The last name Garlich is most commonly found throughout the United States today. In the 2000 census, it was reported that there were over 1,500 individuals with Garlich as a last name. The most common places with Garlichs either residing or originating from were Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, California, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, North Carolina, Washington, Georgia, and Texas.

Garlich is a German or Anglo-Saxon derived name, likely derived from the Germanic word "garl" meaning spear. This name was first used in regions of Bavaria, and was likely related to a profession such as a blacksmith or armorer. The individual or individuals who carried the Garlich name likely had some association with this craft such as a warrior, or an individual of repute.

Since the late 1800s, many individuals with the Garlich last name have moved to the United States, particularly in the Midwest and Eastern regions. The name has since spread across the country, thriving in the many large cities which have significant German populations.

While the origins of the Garlich name are from Bavaria, today it is found almost everywhere in the United States, from large coastal cities to the rural Midwest. Its German roots are strong, but its presence in America is unmistakable—and growing.

Variations of the surname Garlich

The surname Garlich is a variation on the German surname Gerlich, which is a locational name derived from any of the numerous places named Gerlich. These places are believed to have derived their names from a personal name, which is also the root of the surname. Over time, the spelling of the surname would have fluctuated from Gerlich to Garlich due to phonetic translations, as well as dialectical differences.

Variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin as Garlich include: Gerlich, Garlic, Gherlich, Garliche, Garlish, Garlesh, Garlicks, Garlicks, Garlichfield, Garlishaw, Garlinck, Garling and Garloick.

The surname is most commonly pronounced ‘GAR-lish’ in the United States and United Kingdom. However, due to the various spellings, other variations may be heard from different countries and regions, such as ‘GAR-leck’, ‘GAR-lick’, ‘GAR-lish-off’ and ‘GAR-lich’.

In Germany, the surname is originally spelled Gerlich and is derived from any of the numerous places which form part of one of the oldest known records, the ‘Book of Thuringia’ in the eleventh century.

In Austria, the surname is spelled Gerlach (or Garlach) and is derived from the place names of Geyer and Gerlach or Garlach and is believed to be of Bohemian origins.

The surname is also found in Russia, where it is spelled Garilov, Garlov or Garloff and is derived from the German locations Gorlik, Berlin or Posla in the former East Prussia.

In Hungary, the surname is spelled Gerlich and is believed to be derived from the medieval knights who fought in the Holy Roman Empire in the thirteenth century.

In the United States of America, the surname is found as Garlick, Garlock, Garlish or Garlich and is of English or German origin. It is derived from the location Garlinger, which was mentioned in the German-English dictionary of surnames in the early 1870s.

It is likely that the surname Garlich has branched out and spread across numerous countries and continents over the years. As such, it is likely that many other variations and spellings exist for the surname.

Famous people with the name Garlich

• Tara Garlich- stage actress known for her numerous roles in the Pittsburgh Public Theater.
• Marsha Garlich- Emmy Award winning news anchor for local Fox affiliate.
• Judy Garlich- a playwright and one of the co-creators of the long-running hit musical “Smokey Joe's Café”.
• Fred Garlich- a tenth-degree black belt in taekwondo, inducted to the US Taekwondo Hall of Fame.
• John Garlich- Chicago Symphony Orchestra bassist.
• Lewis Garlich- a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, and former minister for sustainable development.
• Steve Garlich- former NFL fullback, currently CEO of senior care facility Williamsburg Community Health Center.
• Jennifer Garlich- motivational speaker and advocate for gender equality in the tech industry.
• Gregory Garlich- an author and award-winning essayist, known for his work exploring the psychological effects of religious fundamentalism.
• Mike Garlich- a renowned mixed martial artist, two-time UFC title holder, and fitness coach.

Other surnames

GarlichsGarlickGarlin