Skip to main content

Updated June 9, 2019

Family name origins & meanings

  • German : from a byname from Middle High German ērlich ‘respected’, ‘honorable’.
  • Jewish (Ashkenazic) : nickname or ornamental name from German ehrlich ‘honorable’, ‘honest’, or Yiddish erlekh ‘honest’, ‘virtuous’.

Subscribe to Family Education

Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning.

Subscribe