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Goerlitz Family History

Goerlitz Surname Meaning

East German (Görlitz): habitational name from a Silesian city so named on the border between Germany and southern Poland.

The placename is of Sorbian origin; its modern Upper Sorbian form is Zhorjelc.

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


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Where is the Goerlitz family from?

You can see how Goerlitz families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Goerlitz family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1880 and 1920. The most Goerlitz families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there was 1 Goerlitz family living in Devon. This was 100% of all the recorded Goerlitz's in United Kingdom. Devon had the highest population of Goerlitz families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Goerlitz 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 Goerlitz ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Goerlitz. 42% of Goerlitz men worked as a Farmer and 27% of Goerlitz women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Goerlitz were Salesman and Teacher.

View Census Data for Goerlitz | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    42%
  • Laborer
    25%
  • Proprietor
    13%
  • Salesman
    13%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    27%
  • Secretary
    20%
  • Housekeeper
    14%
  • Teacher
    14%

What Goerlitz family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Goerlitz. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Goerlitz census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Goerlitz

Passenger Lists

There are 362 immigration records available for the last name Goerlitz. 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 Goerlitz immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 605 military records available for the last name Goerlitz. For the veterans among your Goerlitz ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Goerlitz military records

You've only scratched the surface of Goerlitz family history

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What is the average Goerlitz lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Goerlitz life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Goerlitz in 1942 was 26, and 97 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Goerlitz

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Goerlitz 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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