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Gerlach Family History

Gerlach Surname Meaning

German and Dutch: from the personal name Gerlach composed of the ancient Germanic elements gēr gār ‘spear’ + lach a cognate of Old High German leich ‘sport play’.

Compare Garlick Garlock and Carlock.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Gerlach family from?

You can see how Gerlach families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gerlach family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gerlach families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 28 Gerlach families living in London. This was about 64% of all the recorded Gerlach's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Gerlach families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gerlach surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Gerlach ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Gerlach. 80% of Gerlach women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Gerlach | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    80%
  • Millinery Shop Assist
    20%

What Gerlach family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 29,000 census records available for the last name Gerlach. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gerlach census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gerlach

Passenger Lists

There are 9,000 immigration records available for the last name Gerlach. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Gerlach immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 17,000 military records available for the last name Gerlach. For the veterans among your Gerlach ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gerlach military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gerlach family history

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What is the average Gerlach lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Gerlach life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1957, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Gerlach in 1944 was 59, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gerlach

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gerlach ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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