Surname Erlacher - Meaning and Origin

Erlacher: What does the surname Erlacher mean?

Erlacher is a German surname that originated from a common occupational name. The root word, “erle”, means alder and indicates that the original bearer of the Erlacher name was likely a person who worked with alder trees or who lived near alder trees.

Another meaning of Erlacher is the representative of an “Erl", a German equivalent of a knighthood. If that was the case, the original bearer of the name was either an Erl himself or a loyal servant or advisor to one.

Erlacher is most commonly found in the areas of Austria and Germany, particularly in parts of Bavaria. The surname is also common in Denmark, where it is spelled Erlinder.

The meaning of the surname, then, is dependent on the individual's background. Those with occupational roots are likely working with wood or living near the alder trees. Finally, those with a knighthood in the family are likely the descendants of an Erl.

Erlacher: Where does the name Erlacher come from?

The last name Erlacher is most commonly found in those of German and Austrian descent today. It is a surname deriving from a personal name (first name) Herlacher or Erlacher, which is a compound of the two German words "heri", meaning army, and "lachen", meaning laughter. The name translates to "army of laughter" and is speculated to have been given to humorous people.

The Erlacher surname can be found commonly throughout Germany, Austria and other German-speaking countries, though there are also occurrences of the name in France, Switzerland, the UK and the US.

In the United States, the surname Erlacher is mostly found in the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Illinois and Ohio. It is usually associated with Lutheran or Roman Catholic immigrants who came to the US from Austria and Germany in the 19th Century.

In Germany, the name Erlacher is found mainly in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia and Thuringia. In Austria, the name is found mainly in the states of Lower Austria and Tyrol.

The Erlacher name is less commonly found in other European countries, such as The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, and Scandinavia, but is still present in some form.

Variations of the surname Erlacher

The Erlacher surname is unique to its origin. It is most commonly associated with Austria, where it has also been found in Switzerland and Germany over the centuries. Variants of the surname Erlacher include Erlacher, Erlachers, Erlahr, Erlahrer, Erlecher, Erlehrer, Erlacher, Erler, Erllch, Erlhölzer, and Errlacher.

The variant spellings of Erlacher are mainly found in districts and communities with German-speaking populations. Within those populations it can be spelled several ways, including Erlacher, Erlachers, Erlehrer and Erlahrer.

The conventional spelling of the surname Erlacher is generally the same in all countries, but in some places it is spelled differently. For example, in Switzerland the spelling is spelt Errecher, while in Germany it is spelt Erlecher.

The surnames Erlacher, Erlehrer, Erlahrer, Erlacher, Erler and Erllch derive from the dialectial form of the German word erlach. This is a noun meaning “mud” and is derived from an Old German word erlah. The “ern” prefix is a marker which signals the location of the mud. In the Middle Ages, the word was used to refer to an area of marshy land, and it is likely that the name was given as a result of the presence of such land near a family’s home.

The Erlhölzer variant is derived from the German erlahl (“muddy lake”). This modified form of the surname is commonly found in the districts of Lower and Upper Frankonia in Germany.

As incomplete records do not exist for most surname variants, each of the numerous spelling variations of Erlacher must be explored to discover its regional origin. It is certain, however, that all of these variations and spellings are ultimately derived from the same root name: Erlacher.

Famous people with the name Erlacher

• Luisa Erlacher: Austrian artist
• Steven Erlacher: American proxy advisor and corporate governance expert
• Charles Erlacher: Swiss diplomat and sports personality
• Mireille Erlacher: Swiss sport administrator and former Mayor of Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne
• Peter Erlacher: Austrian-Swiss physicist and mathematician
• Gottfrid Erlacher: German physician and anatomist
• Guy Erlacher: French politician
• Antoine Erlacher: French astronaut
• André Erlacher: former French Minister of National Education
• Christian Erlacher: Austrian actor, musical conductor, and composer

Other surnames

Erlach