UK surname
A German habitational surname indicating someone from any of several places named Gerlingen, derived from the given name Gerle.
In the 1881 census there were 26 people recorded with the Gerling surname, ranking it #29,911 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 15, ranked #37,092, down from #29,911 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Hernhill and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gerling is 248 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 42.3%.
1881 census count
26
Ranked #29,911
Modern count
15
2016, ranked #37,092
Peak year
1861
248 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gerling surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gerling surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 53 | #23,739 |
| 1861 | historical | 248 | #9,947 |
| 1881 | historical | 26 | #29,911 |
| 1891 | historical | 206 | #14,597 |
| 1901 | historical | 97 | #23,227 |
| 1911 | historical | 28 | #30,296 |
| 1997 | modern | 4 | #38,094 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 4 | #37,921 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 9 | #37,213 |
| 2005 | modern | 14 | #36,730 |
| 2006 | modern | 14 | #36,801 |
| 2007 | modern | 12 | #37,095 |
| 2008 | modern | 12 | #37,143 |
| 2009 | modern | 12 | #37,230 |
| 2010 | modern | 10 | #37,517 |
| 2011 | modern | 11 | #37,397 |
| 2012 | modern | 13 | #37,169 |
| 2013 | modern | 15 | #37,046 |
| 2014 | modern | 17 | #36,888 |
| 2015 | modern | 15 | #37,070 |
| 2016 | modern | 15 | #37,092 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Hernhill, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, St Dunstan Stepney and Tuddenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 2 | Hernhill | Kent |
| 3 | Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard | Nottinghamshire |
| 4 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | Tuddenham | Suffolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gerling surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gerling, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Gerling surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gerling household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Gerling is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gerling is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gerling, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Gerling originates from the German language and is believed to have its roots in the northern regions of Germany, particularly in areas such as Lower Saxony and Westphalia. The name is thought to be derived from the Old German word "ger," which means "spear" or "javelin," suggesting a connection to warfare or hunting.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 14th century, when a certain Johannes Gerling was mentioned in the records of the city of Lübeck, a prominent trading hub in northern Germany. This indicates that the name was already established in the region during this period.
The Gerling surname also appears in several historical documents from the 16th and 17th centuries, including church records and municipal registers from various towns and cities across northern Germany. Some notable individuals bearing this name from this era include Johann Gerling (1561-1637), a Lutheran theologian and author, and Hans Gerling (1583-1649), a merchant and city councilor in Hamburg.
As the name spread throughout Germany, different variations in spelling emerged, such as Geerling, Gerlingh, and Gehrling. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and local pronunciation patterns.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Gerling surname became more widely dispersed across Europe and beyond, with some notable bearers including:
1. Friedrich Gerling (1785-1859), a German businessman and entrepreneur who founded the Gerling Insurance Company in Cologne. 2. Ernst Gerling (1817-1898), a German composer and musician known for his contributions to the field of church music. 3. Wilhelm Gerling (1832-1912), a German-born architect who worked extensively in the Netherlands and designed several notable buildings in Amsterdam. 4. Heinrich Gerling (1866-1937), a German politician and member of the Reichstag, representing the Social Democratic Party. 5. Hans Gerling (1888-1960), a German engineer and inventor who patented several innovations in the field of automotive technology.
While the Gerling surname has its roots in northern Germany, it has since spread to various parts of the world through migration and diaspora, with descendants bearing the name found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and South America.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gerling surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 8 Gerlings recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.15x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 8 | 3.15x |
| Suffolk | 6 | 19.42x |
| Buckinghamshire | 3 | 19.57x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 1.00x |
| Glamorgan | 2 | 4.53x |
| Surrey | 2 | 1.62x |
| Devon | 1 | 1.89x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 1.17x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 8 Gerlings recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.55x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Islington London | 8 | 32.55x |
| Westleton | 4 | 5714.29x |
| Monks Risborough | 3 | 4285.71x |
| Roath | 2 | 99.50x |
| West Derby | 2 | 22.73x |
| Burton Upon Trent | 1 | 50.00x |
| Ipswich St Mary At Tower | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Leiston | 1 | 476.19x |
| Mitcham | 1 | 128.21x |
| Newington | 1 | 10.67x |
| North Meols | 1 | 33.90x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 1 | 24.57x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gerling surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Gerling surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Gerling households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Clerk Coal Office | 2 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Scholar | 2 |
| Bankers Clerk | 1 |
| Barmaid | 1 |
| Barman | 1 |
| Bookkeeper General Merchant | 1 |
| Cab Driver | 1 |
| Domestic (Servt) | 1 |
| Farmer 14 Acres | 1 |
| Farmer Of 270 Acres Employing 5 Men & 2 Boys | 1 |
| Farmer Wife | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Infant | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 26 people were recorded with the Gerling surname. That placed it at #29,911 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 15 in 2016. That gives Gerling a modern rank of #37,092.
A German habitational surname indicating someone from any of several places named Gerlingen, derived from the given name Gerle.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gerling bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.