Surname Gerlacher - Meaning and Origin

Gerlacher: What does the surname Gerlacher mean?

The last name Gerlacher is of German origin. It is a surname derived from the word "gerlach", which is a combination of two medieval Germanic words: "ger" meaning "spear" and "lach" meaning "battle". The combination of the two words together forms a compound meaning "to battle with a spear."

The Gerlachers may have originated as a noble family of warriors in the 12th-13th century. They likely served as knights and guardsmen for a prominent family or ruler. Some of these families may have developed a coat of arms to symbolize their responsibility and service, featuring the regality of the lion and the gallantry of the spear.

The surname Gerlacher is unique and particular to Germany, although there may be a few in other parts of the world due to immigration, particularly from Germany. Families with the Gerlacher surname may have roots that can be traced back centuries, and it is likely a Gerlacher family reunion could bring together some distant relatives.

Gerlacher: Where does the name Gerlacher come from?

The last name Gerlacher is most commonly found in German-speaking countries today, particularly Germany and Austria. It is an uncommon name, but can also be found in Poland, The Czech Republic, and in pockets of Alsace and Burgundy in France, where German ancestry is prevalent. In the United States, the first known person carrying the name immigrated from Germany in the early 1800s and mainly settled in Midwestern states such as Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.

In 2020, familysearch.org recorded more than 3,000 people with the surname Gerlacher living in Germany. Counting other German speaking countries, the number is significantly larger as it excludes Switzerland and Luxembourg.

When researching the origins of the Gerlacher surname, it is believed that it has its roots in the Middle or High Gothic language. Its origin can be traced to the root words 'ger' or 'gari' which translate to mean 'spear' or a similar type of weapon.

More recently, Gerlacher is an uncommon surname, due to its relative rarity. For those looking to continue their family line, there are many resources available online to explore, as well as opportunities for connecting with distant relatives.

Variations of the surname Gerlacher

The Gerlacher surname is thought to originate from Germany and can be traced back to the early 17th century. Its first variant spelling was Gerloch, which was then slightly altered to Gerlacher in the 18th century.

Variants of the Gerlacher surname include Gerlich, Gerlough, Gerrloch, Garloch, Garlech and Garlecher. Of these variant spellings, Gerlich is the most commonly used in the United States.

Spelling variants of Gerlacher include Garloch, Garllach, Garloach, Garloch, Garlock, Gerlach, Gerloch, Grollach and Grolloch. These spellings are used in Germany, Switzerland and also in the Huguenot settlements in the United States.

Surnames of the same origin include Gera, Gerb, Gere, Gero, Gerold, Gerollach, and Gerolth. These surnames are derived from personal names such as Gereon, Gero and Gerard.

The Gerlacher surname is also common amongst those from the Netherlands, where it has been used since the late 19th century. Spelling variants, such as Gerlakker, Garrlakker, and Garlaakker, can be found throughout the country.

The most frequently used variants of the Gerlacher surname are the ones derived from Gerloch, due to their historical prevalence. These include Gerlach, Gerloch, Garloch, Garllach, Garloach, Garloch, Gerlack, Gerlich, Gerrloch, Garlock and Grolloch.

Famous people with the name Gerlacher

• Anthony Gerlacher: American ski jumper who competed in the 2014, 2018, and 2018 Olympic Winter Games
• Austin Gerlacher: American professional basketball player for the Maine Red Claws of the NBA G League
• Corey Gerlacher: American professional soccer player for Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer
• Sage Gerlacher: American professional lacrosse player who currently plays for the Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse
• Jessica Gerlacher Randall: American singer and songwriter
• Wolfgang Gerlacher: German jazz saxophonist who won the Edison Award in 2010
• Wolfgang Gerlacher: German physicist and geographer who did research on a diverse range of subjects, from planetary rings to gravitational mechanics
• Christian Gerlacher: German evening and night club manager and DJ
• Gianni Gerlacher: Swiss skier who won two World Cup races and represented Switzerland in the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics
• Jochen Gerlacher: German professional alpine skier who represented his country at the 2013 World Championships and the FIS Ski World Cup

Other surnames

Gerlach