Grlaš families are Croats and they are mostly from Rijeka area. In the past century, relatively most of Croatian residents bearing this family name were born in Rijeka and in Rijeka area. In Dražice in Rijeka area every tenth inhabitant had the family name Grlaš.
Prevalence
About 70 people with faimily name Grlaš live in Croatia today, in 40 households. There were 80 of them in the middle of the past century, and their number decreased by 10 percent. They are located in two Croatian counties, threee cities and 10 other places, mostly in Rijeka (20), and in Drazice (15), Jelenje (<10), Podhum (<10) and Cavle (<10) in Rijeka area.
Outside Croatia
Family name Grlaš (including: Grlas , Gerlas ) is present in three countries on two continents.
In the sources analysed in the project Acta Croatica so far, the name is mentioned few times, the first time 2007 in source Encyclopaedia of Croatian Surnames.