Surname Gehrling - Meaning and Origin
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Gehrling: What does the surname Gehrling mean?
The last name Gehrling derives from the German surname “Görling” or “Gehrling”. It was most likely a geographic surname, referring to someone from a region near the city of Göttingen in the German state of Lower Saxony. The name originated from the Old High German word “gehör,” meaning “corner” or “pasture.” Therefore, Gehrling could likely refer to someone from a corner region or pasture in an area near Göttingen.
The surname dates back to the 13th century and was likely the name of an ancestral family whose descendants were spread across Europe. Throughout the centuries, the name continues to be associated with Germany and has spawned a number of variants across Europe, including Gehrlingen and Görlinger.
The name has spread across the globe, and today, many people of different nationalities bear the surname Gehrling. Its meaning may be interpreted differently by those who bear it, but its origins are rooted in German soil.
Whether one connects to the name because of its original agricultural significance, its geographical roots, or its historical meaning, the surname Gehrling is an emblem of German history and culture. It will remain a symbol of German identity around the world for many generations.
Order DNA origin analysisGehrling: Where does the name Gehrling come from?
The last name Gehrling is most commonly found in Germany today, with higher concentrations of the surname found in the states of Hesse, Baden-Württemberg and Hamburg, the largest city of which is Hamburg itself. German telephone directories listed 1,147 Gehrlings as of a 2020 count.
It is also found in smaller numbers in surrounding countries, including the Netherlands, where a 2009 analysis of available surnames listed 181 instances of the Gehrling name. Research from the same year found 646 Gehrlings in total, mostly residing in the Eastern Netherlands region.
Gehrling is also found across the Atlantic, in the United States, where the name was brought by several families during the 18th and 19th centuries. Cities with the highest concentrations of Gehrlings in the US include Milwaukee, WI, followed by Los Angeles, CA, Chicago, IL, Austin, TX.
Gehrlings around the world can also look to social media platforms such as Facebook, where in 2020 more than 3,400 users listed Gehrling as a last name. Beyond the US and Europe, instances of the last name can also be found in Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Gehrling
The surname Gehrling is a variant of the surname Gerling, which can also be spelled in several different ways, such as Gerlingen, Gereling, Gehring, Gerling, Gehrels, and Gehrlein.
The variation of the surname Gerling applies typically in countries with German heritage. In the German language, the name variation can be spelled Gehring, Gerling, Gerlingen, Gereling and Gehrlein. The spelling of Gehrling in the English language is derived from the Old English variation of the name Gerling (Gering). In Dutch, the name variation is often found as Gehrels, Gehrlens and Gerlens.
The etymology of the surname Gerling can trace its origin from the time of the Middle Ages in which the name was a term of endearment used to mean "little spearman" or "small warrior". The name was then used as a reference to a skilled warrior or someone of a military nature.
The variation of the surname Gerling can be significatnly found in Germany, and some parts of Europe which had a German heritage. With significant numbers of Gherlings in the United States, the surname can also be found in several other noations, such as Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark and the United Kingdom.
Famous people with the name Gehrling
- Juliane Gehrling is a German television reporter, presenter, and author.
- Barry Gehrling is an American computer scientist and professor who works in the field of artificial intelligence.
- Bjorn Gehrling is a Swedish professor, writer, and photographer.
- Michael Gehrling is a German actor and comedian.
- Barbara Gehrling is a German-Canadian actress.
- Andreas Gehrling is a German composer and musician.
- Klaus Gehrling is a German physicist and nanoscientist.
- Mathilde Gehrling is a Swedish TV presenter, author, and reporter.
- Günther Gehrling is a German politician and former leader of the environmentalist organization Die Grünen.
- Friedel Gehrling is a German actor, director, and screenwriter.