In a message dated 01/30/2003 7:42:48 PM Eastern Standard Time, lachance@ccis.com writes: > GERKEN (German) Descendant of little Gero, a pet form of names beginning > with Ger (spear), as Gerlach and Geremar. Two other patronym versions > are GERKE and GERK. Frequently found in the Hamburg area. Other > versions of the name (i.e., GERKING and GEREKE [this last around > 1250-1350 AD]) appear frequently in Westphalia, Bremen, Hamburg, Lubeck, > and Rostock. > ---Sources: New Dictionary of American Family Names by Elsdon C. Smith > and German Names by Hans Bahlow. > Barbara THank you for the information, Barbara. I really appreciate it. Robin