Surname Geerligs - Meaning and Origin

Geerligs: What does the surname Geerligs mean?

The surname Geerligs is a Dutch patronymic surname meaning “son of Gerard”. Gerard is a personal name derived from the Germanic “ger” meaning spear plus “hard” meaning brave or strong. Inherited surnames originating from the personal name Gerard first appeared among the Dutch people in the Middle Ages and they began to be regularly used in the 17th century.

The Geerligs family can be traced to the Dutch province of Gelderland where they were people of prominence, having held a number of notable posts within society. Further records show the family to have branched over to the province of North Holland in the 17th and 18th centuries, establishing the family’s continued presence throughout the country.

The meaning behind the Geerligs surname is reflective of the fact that the family tended to produce very brave and strong individuals, as can be seen by their long standing across the Dutch provinces. It has also been suggested that in some Geerligs family records, the first name Gerard is symbolic of one who is faithful and vigilant. With a long history of dedication and bravery associated to its surname, it is no surprise that the Geerligs family have achieved success over the years.

Geerligs: Where does the name Geerligs come from?

The last name Geerligs is of Dutch origin and is most commonly found in the Netherlands and Belgium today.

In the Netherlands the name is most common in the northern province of Friesland, located on the North Sea in the north-west corner of the country. In Friesland, Geerligs is among the most popular surnames, ranking 260th out of all surnames.

In Belgium, the surname is most commonly found in the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders. The name is not so common as in the Netherlands ranking as the 827th most popular name in Belgium.

The name can also be found in some English-speaking countries such as the United States and Canada. In the United States, there are around 427 people who bear the name Geerligs, with most of them living in Illinois, Minnesota, and Washington. There are also 170 people with a similar surname, Gierligs, living in the same states.

The last name Geerligs is not very common anywhere outside of the Netherlands and Belgium, but can still be found scattered across the Northern Hemisphere.

Variations of the surname Geerligs

The surname Geerligs has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These variants include Geraerts, Geerligs, Geerlijs, Gereltse, Gereltzens, and Gererts.

Geerligs is a patronymic Dutch surname, originating from the personal name Geraert. The Olde Dutch form of this name is 'Geraerd' which means 'hard spear'. The Latin form of the same name is Gerardus which translates to 'brave spearman'. The origin of the name is likely the Germanic/Teutonic ‘ger’ which means ‘spear’ and ‘hard’, denoting strength and skill in battle and hunting.

The name Geraert was commonly used in the Low Countries, especially in Flanders, and is found in various variant forms throughout the Netherlands, Belgium, and surrounding countries. This surname is also found in various spellings including Gerards, Gerrets, Garrets, Gerritts, and Geerts.

Variants found within the Netherlands include Geerlijs, Gereltse, Gereltzens, and Gererts; these variants may also be found in Belgium. Geerlijs and Gererts are particularly common in Flanders and Zeeland, while Gereltse is more prevalent in the Limburg in the Netherlands.

The patronymic nature of this surname suggests that any of these variations may have been adopted by families of the same or different origin in different areas. Therefore, it is possible to find families with the same surname that have a separate origin. In any case, the origins of the surname can all be traced back to the personal name Geraert.

Famous people with the name Geerligs

• Anky van Grunsven: Dutch dressage champion and Olympic gold medalist in equestrian
• Emma Geerligs: Dutch fashion blogger
• Willem Geerligs: Dutch actor and film director
• Marijke Helwegen: Dutch singer and actress
• Sylvia Geerligs-Braat: Dutch artist and sculptor
• Hans Geerligs: Dutch wildlife photographer
• Walter Geerligs: Dutch aviator and author
• Mark Geerligs: Dutch journalist and athlete
• Tom Geerligs: Dutch violinist and composer
• Job Geerligs: Dutch architect and urban planner

Other surnames