Surname Garlough - Meaning and Origin
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Garlough: What does the surname Garlough mean?
The surname Garlough is of Irish origin, and a variant spelling of the more common surname "Garland". The name derives from the Old English gar, meaning "spear" and laf, meaning "remnant or fragment". As such, the surname literally translates to "remnant or fragment of a spear".
In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries in Ireland, many of the Gaelic-speaking population adopted English surnames. It was from these beginnings that the surname Garlough came to exist. Garlough was first found in County Tyrone (now part of Northern Ireland) where the Gaelic O'Gairlidh, meaning "descendant of Gairlidh" were located.
The surname Garlough is most common in the United States of America, particularly in the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland. Across the country, the surname Garlough is associated with people of both Irish and German descent.
Overall, the last name Garlough has an interesting, layered history, like many other common Irish surnames. It is a reminder of both the battle-like atmosphere of the medieval period in Europe, as well as the strong ties between Ireland and other countries. The Garlough family name is a testament to the courage and strength of the Irish people.
Order DNA origin analysisGarlough: Where does the name Garlough come from?
The last name Garlough is primarily associated with the United States, though it does also appear in parts of Europe and the UK. The majority of Garloughs living in the United States are found in the Midwest and the Mid-Atlantic states. In particular, the states of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Wisconsin are known for their concentrations of Garlough families.
The surname Garlough may also exist, though in lesser numbers, in Delaware, New Jersey, Indiana, Ohio, and Connecticut. It is also present throughout Canada, and some Garloughs may be found in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Germany.
The Garlough name appears to have been brought to the United States by settlers from Germany during the 19th century. Since then, the surname has generally been associated with the working class, and particularly with occupations in the coal mining, farming, and railroad building industries. As such, Garlough family lines tend to have been quite mobile within the United States.
The Garlough is a relatively unusual surname, so it can be hard to find those with the name today. However, it does exist in various parts of the United States, and can still be identified by its distinct spelling.
Variations of the surname Garlough
Garlough is a surname of Irish and Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic surname Garcallach or Garalach. It is sometimes also spelled Garrloc, Garlock, Garlux, and Garlogh. Variations in spelling of the surname Garlough have occurred over time due to the change in the pronunciation of the surname, as well as to the fact that scribes in past centuries wrote surnames phonetically based on how they sounded to them.
In some cases, the surname Garlough has been seen as being derived from the Germanic name Carl, which means 'free man'. This spelling variant sometimes takes the form of Karloch, Garlough, or Carlock.
Variant spellings of the surname Garlough include Garling, Garlfe, Garloc, Garlocs, Garlogh, Garlow, Garly, Garlye, and Garlygh. Occasionally, spellings of the surname such as Garleck, Garlic, Garrlock, Garrloech, Garrloc, Garrlogh, and Garrlox have been found in documents.
Surnames of similar origins to Garlough include Garliche, Garlish, Garlisha, Garrloch, Garlogh, Garrlow, and Garly. Occasionally, variant spellings or shortened versions of the surname include Garlo, Garloa, Garloff, and Garlyf.
Famous people with the name Garlough
- Jonathan Garlough: musician, songwriter, producer.
- Susan Garlough: professional singer, actress and host.
- Bill Garlough: fiction writer, poet and publisher.
- Nancy Garlough: fashion designer and author.
- Mark Garlough: actor and writer.
- Elizabeth Garlough: Broadway actress.
- Craig Garlough: professional speaker and life coach.
- Vivian Garlough: comedienne.
- Francis Garlough: science fiction and horror author.
- Charles Garlough: health advocate and entrepreneur.