Surname Gerlof - Meaning and Origin

Gerlof: What does the surname Gerlof mean?

The surname Gerlof is of Germanic origin, with the literal translation of ‘Spear Wolf’. It primarily originates from Old German, with ‘Garrell’ as the earliest recorded form, which translates to ‘Spear Wolf’. It began to be used as a surname in the Middle Ages, when people began to adopt hereditary family names.

The name Gerlof is associated with the noble Gerlof family, which was one of the oldest families in North Germany. It is believed that the family’s first ancestor was a man named Gerlof, who lived in the 12th century. He was highly respected and was made a vassal of the emperor. The Gerlof family was also associated with the Order of the Teutonic Knights, which suggests that they may have been of noble stock.

The name Gerlof is still popular today, with many variations in spelling. Variations include Gerloff, Gorlough, Gorloff, and many more. The Gerlofs who still carry the name today are mainly within Northern Europe, especially in the Netherlands and Germany.

The name Gerlof carries with it a strong sense of nobility and heritage. It has its own unique history and is rich in Germanic traditions. To this day, the Gerlof family remains a respected and powerful presence, a reminder of the strength and courage of their forefathers.

Gerlof: Where does the name Gerlof come from?

The surname Gerlof is most common in North Germany and the Netherlands and is particularly concentrated in the provinces of Drenthe, Groningen, Fryslan and Noord-Holland in the Netherlands. The name originates from the Old Dutch personal name 'gerulf', which is a combination of 'ger' meaning 'spear' and 'wulf' meaning 'wolf. This suggests that it was once borne by a brave warrior.

Today, in Swedish, German and Dutch forms of the name, the surname is more widespread in the Northern Netherlands, Northern Germany and Scandinavia, especially Sweden and Finland. Generally, the name is seen as very rare and old-fashioned outside of these regions. According to records, less than 5,000 people in Europe currently bear the name.

In North America, the surname is more spread out, being found in 16 of the 50 states. This suggests that many of the emigrants that brought the surname with them to the New World were of German and Dutch extraction. The prevalence of the surname in North America suggests that it was not uncommonly adopted by local settlers that may not have had any connection with the Old World Gerlofs.

Overall, the name today is mainly concentrated in a particular region, being rare in most other countries and settle aments. However, its wide geographical spread suggests that the name was very popular at one point and was likely to be adopted by many unrelated families.

Variations of the surname Gerlof

Gerlof is a patronymic name of Dutch origin derived from the personal name Gerard. It means spear ruler or valiant with a spear in Dutch. Other variants and spellings of this surname include Gerloff, Gerloffe, Gerlovs, Garlof, Garloff, Gyrlof, Gyrloff, Garloven, Garlove, Garlovens, Gerloven, Gerlove, Gerlovens, and Gerliff.

Some other surnames of similar origin include Gerrish, Garretson, Garlasson, Jarrell, Garrish, Garritson, Girling, and Gerretse. The spelling of the surname Gerlof has changed subtly over the years. The earliest variant is the Old Dutch 'Girlic' which evolved to the Middle Dutch 'Girlef', and eventually to the modern 'Gerlof'.

The Gerlof name is mainly found in the Netherlands, especially in the Dutch province of Groningen. Dutch emigration has spread the name to Germany and the United States where Gerlof is listed 31,000th among the most common surnames in the United States.

The meaning of the name gives insight to its origin. In Dutch culture, a 'Gerlof' is a man of strength, courage, and valor who is able to fend for himself and his family. The name is also associated with bravery and leadership qualities. Dutch immigrants often chose this patronymic surname to reflect these qualities and pass them down to their descendants.

Famous people with the name Gerlof

• Andrew Gerlof: Hollywood filmmaker and executive producer. He has served as an executive producer on major Hollywood films such as American Hustle, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Silver Linings Playbook.
• Gustav Gerlof: Swedish-American publisher, bookseller, and stationer in New York City in the late 1800s. He was also the publisher of a Swedish-language newspaper, Svenska Amerikanska Posten.
• Hyllis Gerlof: Swedish Olympic racer speed skater, who competed in 1960 in Squaw Valley.
• Inger Gerlof: Swedish poet, lyricist and lyric writer. She is most known for her empowering lyrics, which often focused on nature and the environment.
• John Gerlof: Swedish-American educator and poet. During his lifetime he published four volumes of lyrical poems, plus a book of educational essays. He was also a professor of Latin and Greek at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota.
• Karl Albert Gerlof: Swedish-American businessperson and politician. He was a leader of the Swedish-American community in Davenport, Iowa. He was also a U.S. Congressman in the late 1800s.
• Magnus Gerlof: Swedish-American ethnographer, periods of Swedish emigration to the United States. His work was shared in several books and publications, including Sveriges utvandrarsaga 1846-1920.
• Ola Gerlof: Swedish writer and TV personality. She is best known for her travel books, such as Europagulpen and Smygfotografering i Kristianstad. Ola has also hosted multiple television shows such as Vem ska betala, Riksdagen and Hem till Höglandet.

Other surnames

Gerloff