Gerlach is a male forename of Germanic origin, variations of which exist in many Germanic and Romance languages. Like many other early Germanic names, it is dithematic, consisting of two meaningful constituents put together. In this case, those constituents are ''ger'' (meaning 'spear') and ''/la:k /'' (meaning 'motion'). The meaning of the name is thus 'spear thrower'.
It became a

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

, and a source from which other surnames have been derived, as well.

Personal name

Saint Gerlach Gerlach (Gerlache, Gerlac, Gerlachus van Houthem, Gerlac of Valkenberg) (d. c. 1170) was a 12th-century Dutch hermit. His cult is centered at Houthem near Valkenburg in the south of the province of Limburg. Life The ''Vita Beati Gerlaci Eremyt ...

(died c. 1170), Dutch saint *

Gerlach I of Isenburg-Arnfels Gerlach I of Isenburg-Arnfels was the Count of Isenburg-Arnfels from 1286 (1287) until 1303. Gerlach was the youngest son of Count Henry II of Isenburg-Grenzau. In 1286 he partitioned his lands between his sons, and Gerlach as the youngest recei ...

, Count of Isenburg-Arnfels from 1286 (1287) until 1303 *

Gerlach I of Isenburg-Wied Gerlach I of Isenburg-Wied was the Count of Isenburg-Wied Isenburg-Wied was the name of a state of the Holy Roman Empire, based around Neuwied in modern Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It was renamed from Isenburg-Braunsberg Isenburg-Braunsberg ...

, Count of Isenburg-Wied from 1409 until 1413 *

Gerlach I of Nassau-Wiesbaden Gerlach I of Nassau (1271 – 7 January 1361), Count of Nassau in Wiesbaden, Idstein, Weilburg, and Weilnau. He was a son of Adolf of Nassau, elected King of the Romans, and Imagina of Isenburg-Limburg. Family and children He was married t ...

(before 1288-1361), Count of Nassau * Gerlach II of Isenburg-Arnfels, Count of Isenburg-Arnfels from 1333 until 1379 *

Gerlach II of Isenburg-Covern Gerlach II of Isenburg-Covern was the Count of Isenburg-Covern Isenburg-Covern was the name of a state of the Holy Roman Empire, based around Kobern-Gondorf in modern Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Re ...

, Count of Isenburg-Covern from 1158 until 1217 *

Gerlach III of Isenburg-Covern Gerlach III of Isenburg-Covern was the Count of Isenburg-Covern from 1217 until 1235. 1235 deaths House of Isenburg Year of birth unknown {{Germany-count-stub ...

, Count of Isenburg-Covern from 1217 until 1235 *

Gerlach IV of Isenburg-Limburg Gerlach is a male forename of Germanic origin, variations of which exist in many Germanic and Romance languages. Like many other early Germanic names, it is dithematic, consisting of two meaningful constituents put together. In this case, those ...

(died 1289), Lord of Limburg an der Lahn * Gerlach V of Isenburg-Limburg (died 1355), Count of Isenburg-Limburg; grandson of Gerlach IV * Gerlach VI of Isenburg-Limburg (died 1365), Count of Isenburg-Limburg and Lord of Limburg an der Lahn; son of Gerlach V *

Gerlach Flicke Gerlach Flicke ( fl. 1545 – 1558), Latin name Gerbarus Fleccius, anglicised in the 16th century as "Garlicke", was a German portrait painter who is known for his work in London as an artist of the Tudor court. Flicke was imprisoned in London ...

(''fl.'' 1545-1558), German portrait painter of the English Tudor court * Gerlach Cornelis Joannes van Reenen (1818–1893), Dutch politician

Surname

Annette Gerlach Annette Gerlach in 2009. Annette Gerlach (born 16 October 1964 in Berlin), is a German TV host and journalist of the Franco-German television channel Arte. She presents the programs in German as well as in French. Life Born in Berlin, Gerlach h ...

(born 1964), German TV host *

Carl Gotthelf Gerlach Carl Gotthelf Gerlach (31 December 1704 – 9 July 1761) was a German organist, composer and violinist. Life Born in , Wermsdorf, hear Oschatz, Gerlach became a pupil at the Thomasschule in Leipzig, receiving musical training between 1716 ...

(1704–1761), German organist and music director * Carl Ludvig Gerlach (1832–1893), Danish composer and opera singer *

Carl R. Gerlach Carl R. Gerlach is a former Mayor of Overland Park, Kansas. Gerlach was first elected as mayor in 2005, replacing Ed Eilert. He ran unopposed in his next two elections in 2009 and 2013. Gerlach then beat his first challenger for mayor in 12 ...

, mayor of Overland Park, Kansas *

Charles L. Gerlach Charles Lewis Gerlach (September 14, 1895 – May 5, 1947) was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Biography Charles Lewis Gerlach was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania ...

(1895-1947), U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania *

Chris Gerlach Chris Gerlach (born November 17, 1964) is a Minnesota politician and former member of the Minnesota Senate representing District 37, which included portions of the cities of Apple Valley, Burnsville and Rosemount in Dakota County, which is l ...

(born 1964), American politician * Christian Gerlach, professor of modern history at the University of Bern *

Daniel Gerlach Daniel Gerlach (born 1977) is a German author, journalist, publisher and Middle East expert. He is the current editor-in-chief of the German Middle East quarterly magazine zenith and director-general of the Candid Foundation. Career Gerlach st ...

(born 1977), German journalist *

Elsie Gerlach Dr. Elsie Gerlach (1900-1967) was named the first superintendent of the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry Children's Clinic in 1927 after having served as an instructor at the University of Pennsylvania. Gerlach stayed for 38 ye ...

, 20th century dental educator *

Ernst Ludwig von Gerlach Ernst Ludwig von Gerlach (7 March 1795 – 18 February 1877) was a Prussian politician, editor and judge. He is considered one of the main founders and leading thinkers of the Conservative Party in Prussia and was for many years its leader in the P ...

(1795-1877), Prussian judge and politician *

Hellmut von Gerlach Hellmut Georg von Gerlach (2 February 1866 – 1 August 1935) was a German journalist and politician. Life Hellmut von Gerlach, the son of landowner Max von Gerlach, was born in Mönchmotschelnitz in Silesia. He studied law at the universiti ...

(1866-1935), German journalist and politician * Jim Gerlach (born 1955), U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania *

Joseph von Gerlach Joseph von Gerlach (3 April 1820 – 17 December 1896) was a German professor of anatomy at the University of Erlangen. He was a native of Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate. Gerlach was a pioneer of histological staining and anatomical micrography. I ...

(1820-1896), German anatomist and professor *

Kurt Albert Gerlach Kurt Albert Gerlach (22 August 1886, Hanover – 19 October 1922, Frankfurt) was a German professor and Sociology, sociologist. Life Gerlach was the son of the chemist and later director of the Continental AG Albert Gerlach and his wife Martha F ...

(1886-1922), German sociologist * Ludwig Friedrich Leopold von Gerlach (1790-1861), Prussian general *

Manfred Gerlach Manfred Gerlach (8 May 1928 – 17 October 2011) was a German jurist and politician, and the longtime leader of the East German Liberal Democratic Party. He served as ''Chairman of the Council of State'' and was thus head of state of East ...

(1928-2011), head of state of East Germany (1989-1990) * Otto von Gerlach (1801-1849), German theologian and pastor * Talitha Gerlach (1896–1995), American YMCA worker who spent most of her life as a social worker in Shanghai, China * Walther Gerlach (1889-1979), German physicist *

Wim Gerlach Willem Aaldert "Wim" Gerlach (24 June 1935 – 14 June 2007) is a retired boxer from the Netherlands. He competed at the 1960 and 1964 Summer Olympics in the lightweight and light welterweight classes, respectively, and was eliminated in the fir ...

(1935-2007), Dutch Olympic boxer * Irene Gerlach, fictional character in Erich Kästner's '' Lottie and Lisa''

Personal name

Surname

See also