Surname Gerl - Meaning and Origin
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Gerl: What does the surname Gerl mean?
The last name Gerl is of German origin, and is derived from the word 'gerl', meaning young man or boy. It may have been a nickname used to describe a servant or young apprentice, as claim by some sources. This name was also used as an occupational surname for someone who worked as a servant.
In the late Middle Ages, Germany had a feudal system, and many of the families living there at the time were tied to the estates of noble families. It was common for these families to take the name of the estate after they became servants of the lord or lady. This could have been the origin of the Gerl surname.
The meaning of the name was further extend to mean bold, brave and heroic. This could suggest that the original Gerl was a brave soldier, or someone who had achieved great success in his life.
Finally, Gerl may also have originally been a personal name derived from the Old Germanic word 'Garl', meaning spear. This would indicate someone intimidating, clever and wise.
Overall, the last name Gerl is most likely derived from the old Germanic term ‘gerl’, and could have been used as a nickname for someone who worked as a servant. However, it could also have originally been a personal name, suggesting someone is courageous, wise and intimidating.
Order DNA origin analysisGerl: Where does the name Gerl come from?
The last name Gerl is most common in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. It was first found in Austria in the 11th century. The first known recorded bearer of the name was Burchardus Gerl, who lived around 1160 in the region of Vorarlberg. The last name is also found in other German-speaking countries such as Germany, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.
The name is believed to have multiple origins. It is believed to be derived from the Old German word “ger” meaning spear. It could also have derived its name from the word “gerla” meaning bowl, as the family may have been potters. There is also some evidence that it is derived from the Old High German word “gerl” meaning perturbed or anxious.
The current spelling of the name has various dialectal forms including Gerl, Gerhl, Gehrl, Gerlach, Gehrls, and Gerlbacher. Depending on dialect, pronunciation of the name may also vary, with it being pronounced as “ger-lah” or “gue-rell” in some areas.
The population of individuals bearing the last name Gerl is relatively small even today. It is estimated that worldwide, only about 10,000 people bear the name. As such, it is quite a unique name, making it easy to trace any ancestors with the same surname.
Variations of the surname Gerl
The surname Gerl is a patronymic surname, which is derived from the personal names Garl or Gerald. This surname was most commonly found in Austria, Germany, and other countries in Central Europe between the 16th and 19th century. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include:
Garle, Garls, Gärl, Gärle, Gärls, Gerl, Gerle, Gherl, Gherle, Ghrl, Gurl, and Gürl.
The surname Gerl is also anglicized in several different spellings, including: Garle, Garls, Gärl, Gärle, Gärls, Gerrl, Gerrel, Gherl, Gherle, Gherl, Ghrl, Gurl, and Gürl.
The Dutch surname Gerlijs is derived from Gerl, as well as the Czech surname Grehl, which is derived from the German word “grell” meaning yell.
Additionally, there is a Jewish surname Garl, which is a German variant of the Yiddish surname Gerl.
In some cases, the spelling of Gerl was also changed to Garlin, Gerrlin, and even Garlind. This could have been done intentionally to avoid persecution on account of their Jewish heritage.
Overall, there are many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Gerl. Each of these descendant surnames could have been formed due to misspellings, anglicization, or even intentional changes due to persecution. Whatever the origin, the many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin all stem from the patronymic surname Gerl.
Famous people with the name Gerl
- Stephen Gerl: Stephen is an American poet and Professor Emeritus of English at Westfield State University.
- LeRoy Gerl: LeRoy is an American cinematographer who has worked on many films, including the sci-fi classic Blade Runner.
- Adrian Gerl: Adrian is a former professional German footballer who played for FC Nürnberg.
- Hermann Gerl: Hermann was a German actor who was active in theatre, television, and radio between 1959 and 1993.
- Rolf Gerl: Rolf is a former indoor volleyball player from Germany who competed in the Olympics and the European Championships.
- Uli Gerl: Uli is a former professional footballer and current coach of the team of FC Herrlingen in Germany.
- Gertrude Gerl: Gertrude is an Austrian screenwriter who received an Academy Award for scripting Under the Pressure.
- Ray Gerl: Ray is an American professional golfer and serves as a golf instructor in California.
- Florian Gerl: Florian is an Austrian football manager and former player who currently works as the sporting director of FC Wacker Innsbruck.
- August Gerl: August was an Austrian sculptor and painter who is best known for his sculptures of figures from Greek mythology.