Surname Gerlings - Meaning and Origin

Gerlings: What does the surname Gerlings mean?

The last name Gerlings is a patronymic surname derived from the personal name Gerlach. Patronymic surnames were a type of surname used in many German-speaking regions throughout the Middle Ages and typically indicate the given name of the father of the bearer. In this case, the name Gerlach means “spearman” or “spear-strong” in Old German, and would have signified power and strength.

The spelling of the surname varies greatly. Common forms are Gehring, Gehrling, Gerlings, Gorings, Grings, Gering, or Gehling, although there are also some spelling variations. The word Gerling or Gerlings is commonly used to refer to wild geese in German, lending the name Gerlings an additional charm.

The name Gerlings is thought to have originated in the Rhine/Main region in central/eastern Germany. The name is found in records dating back to the Medieval period and has since spread to other countries like Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and the United States.

Today, the name Gerlings is predominantly found in countries with large German-speaking populations, such as Germany, the United States, Canada, and Austria.

Gerlings: Where does the name Gerlings come from?

The last name Gerlings is most commonly found in the Netherlands and Germany. It is believed to have originated in the region between the Rhine and the Meuse Rivers, where many of its earliest known bearers were located in the 11th century.

In Germany, the name is mostly found in the Ruhr area, in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, and the German-speaking region of Switzerland. The Dutch trace their Gerlings roots predominantly to the region of North Brabant and the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands, where the city of Gouda and the town of Galder are known to have large numbers of bearers of the name.

In terms of modern popularity, the name still holds prominence in countries like Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium, but has started to gain traction across many countries with Germanic heritage, including Luxembourg, Austria, and Denmark. This name is further spread across the world, and can be seen in countries like Hungary, France, and most famously the United States where thousands of bearers have emigrated since the 19th century.

In the United States, the earliest bearers settled in Pennsylvania, New York, and parts of Ohio in the homestead era. Today, the name continues to be popular in the Midwest, particularly in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. However, due to increased global mobility, the name Gerlings is increasingly being recorded in virtually all states and cities across the United States.

Variations of the surname Gerlings

The surname Gerlings is of German origin, and there are several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.

Some variants of Gerlings are Gerlingen, Gerlengen, Gerling, Gerlen, Gerl and Görling.

The spellings are often interchangeable and may vary due to regional dialects and language.

Common spellings include: Görlings, Gerlings, Gerlingen, Gorling, Görlingen, Gerling, Gerlen, Görl, Görlinger and Görrlenger.

Surnames of the same origin as Gerlings may include: Garling, Girling, Gerrling, Gerwling, Gierling, Jorling, Gierlings, Gärling and Girlingen.

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Gerlings are likely to have evolved over time as a result of regional dialects, migration and cultural influences.

For example, in some regions the spelling may be altered to more closely resemble local pronunciations.

Famous people with the name Gerlings

• Jennifer Gerlings: TV presenter and radio DJ in The Netherlands
• Junius Gerlings: Dutch professional cyclist
• Dirk Gerlings: Dutch professional speed skater
• Chuck Gerlings: Retired American professional basketball player
• Tyniece Gerlings: Dutch professional kite surfer
• Therese Gerlings: Norwegian beach volleyball player
• Sven Gerlings: Dutch professional football player
• Annika Gerlings: Swiss professional tennis player
• Hans Gerlings: German professional diver
• Andrea Gerlings: Professional snowboarder from Switzerland.

Other surnames

Gerling