History of your Surname
Get access to Gerlich family records.Start a free trial

Gerlich Family History

Gerlich Name Meaning

German: variant of Gerlach . Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): variant of Herlich itself a variant of Ehrlich . See also 3 below. Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): artificial name from Yiddish herlikh ‘glorious’. Spelling with G- originated under Russian influence since Russian has no h and alters it to g in borrowed words and names. Americanized form of Croatian and Serbian Grlić: nickname derived from grlo ‘throat’. Americanized form of Slovenian Gerlič: nickname derived from an old spelling of grlo ‘throat’ or alternatively based on an old spelling of grlič ‘turtle dove nestling’. Compare Garlich .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Gersch, Gerlach, Erlich, Goerlich, Genrich, Redlich, Perlich, Gerich

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Gerlich family from?

You can see how Gerlich families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gerlich family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Gerlich families were found in USA in 1920. In 1880 there were 18 Gerlich families living in Minnesota. This was about 22% of all the recorded Gerlich's in USA. Minnesota had the highest population of Gerlich families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gerlich surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Gerlich ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Seamstress were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Gerlich. 25% of Gerlich men worked as a Laborer and 24% of Gerlich women worked as a Seamstress. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gerlich were Farm Laborer and Clerk. .

View Census Data for Gerlich | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    25%
  • Farmer
    16%
  • Salesman
    12%
  • Farm Laborer
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Seamstress
    24%
  • Housewife
    16%
  • Maid
    16%
  • Clerk
    16%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Gerlich family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Gerlich. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gerlich census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Gerlich

Passenger Lists

There are 764 immigration records available for the last name Gerlich. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Gerlich immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Gerlich. For the veterans among your Gerlich ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gerlich military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gerlich family history

Discover More

What is the average Gerlich lifespan?

Between 1954 and 2004, in the United States, Gerlich life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1954, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Gerlich in 1954 was 34, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gerlich

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Gerlich family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Gerlich last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial