Show ContentsGerken History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Gerken family

The surname Gerken was first found in Hamburg, where the name contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation which would later play a large role in the tribal and national conflicts of the area. In later years the name branched into many houses, each playing a significant role in the local social and political affairs. The name is also connected to several place names in the Holstein region.

Early History of the Gerken family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gerken research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1566, 1590, 1610, 1770 and 1844 are included under the topic Early Gerken History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gerken Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gehra, Gehren, Gehring, Gera, Geradon, Geradts and many more.

Early Notables of the Gerken family

More information is included under the topic Early Gerken Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gerken Ranking

In the United States, the name Gerken is the 11,384th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Gerken migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gerken Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Cathn Eliza Gerken, aged 34, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1787 2
Gerken Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Claus Gerken, who arrived in North America in 1832 2
  • Ferdinand Gerken, who landed in North America in 1832 2
  • Gebert Gerken, who arrived in North America in 1832 2
  • Georg Gerken, who landed in North America in 1832 2
  • H Gerken, who arrived in North America in 1832 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Gerken (post 1700) +

  • George Herbert Gerken (1903-1977), American Major League Baseball outfielder
  • Rudolph Aloysius Gerken (1887-1943), American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church
  • Paul Gerken (b. 1950), former American professional tennis player
  • Barbara Gerken (b. 1964), former American international tennis player
  • Vice Admiral Sir Robert William Frank Gerken KCB CBE (1932-2022), British Royal Navy officer, Flag Officer, Plymouth (1985-1987)
  • Dean Jeffery Gerken (b. 1985), English footballer


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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