Surname Erlich - Meaning and Origin

Erlich: What does the surname Erlich mean?

The last name Erlich is of German origin and is derived from the Old German word “erleich” meaning “swamp”. It is a locational name, used to denote someone who lived near a swamp or marshland within its respective region. It is also believed to be a nickname or descriptive name for someone who lived in or near such places, known for their wet and humid climates.

The spelling of the name has undergone several changes over time, ranging from Airlich to Erlich, as it was adopted by different cultures and language groups. For example, in Swedish, the name is spelled Erlich, while in English it is typically spelled Erickson or Erickson.

The Erlich surname is a common one throughout Europe and the United States with people with this name tracing their ancestry back to Germany, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and Poland. It is an especially common name among Ashkenazi Jews, whose ancestors often left these places in search of a better life for their families.

Today, the last name Erlich can be found in various regions throughout the world, such as the Americas, Europe, Australasia, and even South Africa. While the root word erleich has become incorporated into various languages, the Erlich surname has remained a constant. It is a reminder of the rich heritage of those who originally had the name as well as a testament to the courage and strength of those who made the long and difficult journeys in search of a better life.

Erlich: Where does the name Erlich come from?

The last name Erlich is of German origin and can be found throughout many German-speaking countries, including Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. The surname is also quite common in Israel, where it has been adopted by many Jews from German-speaking countries who relocated there in the 19th and 20th century. Additionally, evidence suggests that some bearers of the surname Erlich may have Jewish roots.

The surname Erlich is found in relatively large numbers in the United States as well. While the majority of those bearing the name in the US are most likely from German or Israeli heritage, evidence suggests there may also be some Latin American Erlichs who immigrated to the U.S. through Mexico, likely from German-speaking countries in the Americas such as Argentina.

In terms of numbers, the last name Erlich is most commonly found in the federal state of Hesse in Germany, as well as in the state of Bavaria, followed by Austria, Israel, and the United States. Interestingly, Erlich is also the fifteenth most common surname in Brazil, a country with a very large population of people with German ancestry.

Variations of the surname Erlich

Erlich is a surname of German origin which is derived from the Middle High German terms "erlîch" and "erleich". It is an occupational name for someone who worked as an administrator of an estate, or a mayor, or a bailiff. This surname is quite widespread across the German speaking world, with many variants, spellings and branches having developed over the centuries.

In Germany, the name is often seen spelled as Erlich, Erlick, Erlicht and Erlix. It is more commonly seen as Ehrlich or Ehrlick in countries such as Austria and the Czech Republic. Other spellings of the surname include Ehrlichkeit, Erlichthau, Erlih, Erle and Erley.

The same surname is found in other countries too, but with adapted spellings. For example, it is seen as Erljkovich in Serbia, Ehrlichman in South Africa and Erlichovitz in Hungary.

Surname variants can usually tell us something about the time, place and family associated with them. This is the case with the names Erlich, Ehrlich and Erlick, which all originated as the same occupational surname in Germany but over time, each family began to spell it slightly differently. This helps us to trace how they spread and changed over the years.

Famous people with the name Erlich

• Paul Erlich: German bacteriologist who formulated the side-chain theory of antibody formation. He was selected as a Foreign Member of the Royal Society in 1914 and awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1908.
• Avi Erlich: Israeli composer and singer-songwriter. He is known for modernising traditional Jewish religious music and creating his own style combining liturgical Yiddish singing with contemporary musical styles.
• Dan Erlich: Israeli professional tennis player. He competed at the 1995 French Open and was part of the Israeli team that took part in the 2006 Davis Cup.
• Richard Erlich: American linguist and professor. He is known for his research in philology, morphology, syntax, and the history of English.
• Michael Erlich: German physicist and professor. He is best known for his work in the areas of nanooptics, laser spectroscopy, and femtochemistry.
• Julian Erlich: Austrian composer and pianist. He wrote chamber works, solo pieces, and orchestral pieces.
• Helge Erlich: German economist and academic. He is an expert in the fields of energy economics, sustainable development, and applied economics.
• Steven Erlich: American film producer. He is known for producing movies such as The Finest Hours, Big Little Lies, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
• Louise Erlich: American scientist and academic administrator. She is an expert in the fields of life sciences and biochemistry and was the Provost at Barnard College from 2008 to 2016.
• Arthur Erlich: American engineer and inventor. He is best known for his inventions related to the television antenna, including the corner reflector antenna and large-aperture array antenna designs.

Other surnames

ErlicherErlichmann