Surname Garrard - Meaning and Origin
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Garrard: What does the surname Garrard mean?
The last name Garrard is of Anglo-Norman origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is a patronymic name derived from the personal name Gerard, which is of German origin and derived from Gerardus, composed of the elements "geri" meaning "spear" and "hard" meaning “brave or hardy”.
The Garrard surname appears in records including "Chartulary of Poitiers" as early as 1185 and in 1316, one Robert Gerarde was documented in The Staffordshire Assize Rolls.
The Garrard surname can be found in many parts of Europe including the UK, Ireland, France and Spain. It is also prominent in North America, particularly the United States, Canada, and Jamaica.
Garrard is a relatively common surname in England with many notable figures such as John Garrard (1567-1611), an English politician and MP for Southwark and Abraham Garrard (1630-1707), a London-based bookseller. The Garrard surname is also found in literature, such as Sir William Garrard from the novel "The Rose and the Ring" by author William Makepeace Thackeray.
The name Garrard is evocative of strength, braveness, and fortitude. It is believed to be a proud declaration of valiant, honourable lineage of ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisGarrard: Where does the name Garrard come from?
The last name Garrard is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States.
In the UK, the Garrard name has origins in the Norman Conquest of 1066 when one of William the Conqueror’s followers named Waleran de Gerold was granted lands in Suffolk and soon after adopted the surname Gerold. Since then the name has spread to East Anglia, Kent and parts of Scotland and Wales.
In Ireland, the Garrard surname has been recorded in the region since as early as 1659. The name likely had Scottish origins which arrived with the influx of people arriving in the country during its troubled period in the 1600s.
In the United States, the Garrard name originated in Virginia in the 1700s. However, most contemporary Garrards in the United States can trace their ancestry back to Germany where the first Garrard arrived in the country as a Hessian soldier during the Revolutionary War.
Today, the Garrard surname is scattered throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States, where it continues to spread with further generations.
Variations of the surname Garrard
The surname Garrard is of French-Norman origin and is derived from the Germanic personal name Gerard. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include:
Gerard – This is the original version of the name, derived from the Old German ‘Gerhard’ meaning ‘brave spear’. It is still used as a masculine name today.
Gerrard – An alternative spelling of Gerard, used to represent the name in medieval documents.
Garrard – This variation of Gerard/Gerrard is widely used today.
Garrod – A patronymic form of Gerard, meaning ‘son of Gerard’.
Gerald – A variant of Gerard which evolved from the Old Norman French consonant cluster ‘-rard’ being changed into ‘-rald’.
Geralds – A patronymic form of Gerald.
Geraud – Another French variant of Gerard.
Garret – An English vernacular form of Gerard.
Garrit - A Dutch variant of Gerard.
Garritson – A patronymic form of Garrit.
Jarrard – An English phonetic form of Gerard.
Jarrett– An altered diminutive form of Jarrard.
Garred– A variant of Garrard.
Garrod – A surname derived from the medieval French given name Garrard.
Garretty – A variant of Garrett.
Garry – An English version of Gerard.
Garryson – A patronymic form of Garry.
Garrit – A Dutch surname derived from the Norman given name Gerard.
Gerold– German version of Gerard.
Gerolds– German patronymic form of Gerold.
Garhard – Another French spelling of Gerard.
Gerhard – German spelling of Gerard.
Gerhardus – Latinized form of Gerhard.
Gherardino – Italian spelling of Gerard.
Gerrast– Welsh spelling of Gerard.
Gerrout– Variant spelling of Garrard.
Garritsen– Dutch patronymic form of Garrit.
Gerritt – An alternative spelling of Garrard.
Gerrit– Dutch spelling of Gerard.
Famous people with the name Garrard
- David Garrard: Former NFL quarterback and current NFL Network Analyst
- Ashley Garrard: Actress known for her roles in The Bank Job, Love Me Tender, and Ambush
- Kalama Garrard: Hawaiian surfer and TikTok star
- Lillian Garrard: American writer and poet who has published several books
- Charles Garrard: British landowner, philanthropist, and politician
- Joanne Garrard: South African entrepreneur and philanthropist who created the African Women Leadership Network
- D'Wayne Garrard: Musician, producer, and actor from Nashville, TN
- Marquis Garrard: Professional basketball player for Hapoel Holon of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Michelle Garrard: Jamaican singer and songwriter
- Dwight Garrard: Medal of Honor recipient for his service in World War II