Grlica families are frequently Croats and they are mostly from Virovitica area , less frequently Serbs and Slovenes. In the past century, relatively most of Croatian residents bearing this family name were born in Virovitica area and in Rijeka.
Prevalence
About 140 people with faimily name Grlica live in Croatia today, in 60 households. There were 180 of them in the middle of the past century, and their number decreased by 20 percent. They are located in the most of Croatian counties, in 17 cities and 19 other places, mostly in Spisic Bukovica in Virovitica area (15), Rijeka (15), Pitomaca in Djurdjevac area (15), Zagreb (15), and in Otrovanec in Djurdjevac area (10).
Outside Croatia
At least four families with this surname emigrated from Croatia to: the United States (2), Canada (1), and to Switzerland (1). Family name Grlica is present in 12 countries on three continents. The family name "Grlica " is used by some 50 people in the United States , small number in Chile , and small number of people in Germany. "Gerlica " is used by some 80 people in the United States and small number in Albania.
In the sources analysed in the project Acta Croatica so far, the name is mentioned over five times, the first time 2007 in source Encyclopaedia of Croatian Surnames.
