Surname Gerloff - Meaning and Origin

Gerloff: What does the surname Gerloff mean?

The last name Gerloff is of Germanic origins and is thought to have originated as a surname denoting a person from or associated with the village of Gerloff, located in the Thuringian state of Germany. As such, it could have meant ‘from Gerloff’.

The family name Gerloff could also have been derived from a middle-high German term for caretaker or manager of a building or estate. This is supported by archaic spellings of the last name such as Gerlauff, Gerlahf and Garloff. The term may have been used as an occupational name to denote a person responsible for the running of such an estate.

The name Gerloff also appears in numerous variant spellings including Garhoffs, Gerhauff, Gerlauff, Gerleff, Gerloff, Gerolf, Gerolff, and Garlauf - all which are thought to have the same origin.

Ultimately, the name Gerloff is believed to have derived from a place name, an occupation name, or from the Middle High German word for caretaker or manager. These various possible origins of the name all demonstrate the long history of the Gerloff surname and the rich heritage of its associated families.

Gerloff: Where does the name Gerloff come from?

The last name Gerloff is most commonly found in Germany and the United States. In Germany, the surname has its roots in the former East and West Prussia regions, and is found in many parts of the country today. In the United States, the name has been brought over by German immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and is especially prevalent in the midwest states with large German-American populations such as Wisconsin, Illinois, and Ohio.

Data from the US Census Bureau indicates that there were approximately 16,700 individuals with the last name Gerloff in the US, representing 0.0055% of the population in 2018. This number is higher in certain states with large German-American populations. For example, in Wisconsin, an estimated 1,398 people have the Gerloff surname, making it the 193rd most common name in the state. Similarly, in Illinois, there were an estimated 711 individuals with the Gerloff last name, making it the 432nd most common name in the state.

The name Gerloff is also common in other parts of the world, particularly in The Netherlands and Belgium. It can also be found in small amounts in France, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Variations of the surname Gerloff

The surname Gerloff is of German origin. It is derived from the elements "Gerl" and "off," which mean "spear" and "offspring of," respectively. Variants of this surname include Gerlaff, Gerlaph, Gerlop, Gerlopp, Gerloffe, and Gerlow.

Spellings of this surname can vary and include Gherloff, Ghörloff, Ghörloffe, Gherlaff, Gherlaph, Gherlop, Gherlopp, Gherloffe, and Gherlow. Surnames of the same origin can also incorporate the prefixes, “Ger,” “Gher,” or “Ghr,” such as Gerlough, Gherlough, Ghrlough, Gerlach, Gherlach, and Ghrlach. Interestingly, some variants and spellings have also shifted or diverged to include an “H” as opposed to the “G” (e.g., Herloff, Herlaph, Herloffe, Herlop, Herlopp, Herlow).

Surnames of the same origin include Gerle, Gherle, Ghrle, Gerlich, Gherlich, Ghrlich, Gerling, Gherling, Ghrling, and Gerlichmann. Other names related to Gerloff include Gerlacher, Gherlacher, Ghrlacher, Gerlinghofer, Gherlinghofer, Ghrlinghofer, Gerlinghofen, Gherlinghofen, and Ghrlinghofen.

Most of these names have their origin in similar German words or elements, such as the words “ger,” meaning “spear,” and “hoff” and “hofer,” meaning “court,” “farm,” or “farmstead.” With all of the possible variations and spellings, the pronunciation of the surname Gerloff typically remains the same.

Famous people with the name Gerloff

• Michael Gerloff: German football manager
• Nora Gerloff: Professional ice hockey player on the German national team
• Christine Gerloff: Actress
• Max Gerloff: German historian
• Joachim Gerloff: Former Member of German Parliament
• Danny Gerloff: Lead singer of pop rock band “Blue Voodoo”
• Dean Gerloff: Movie producer and director
• Kathy Gerloff: Editor, author, and artist living in Connecticut
• Oliver Gerloff: German actor
• Frederick T. Gerloff: Former American soldier and engineer

Other surnames

Gerlof