Surname Garratt - Meaning and Origin
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Garratt: What does the surname Garratt mean?
The surname Garratt is of English origin and is thought to be derived from an Old English personal name Garat, or Garcet. The root of this name may have come from the Germanic root 'gara', meaning ‘spear’ or ‘lance’, suggesting it was once a name given to a brave warrior.
Another theory is that Garratt has origins in Old French garat, or garot, which meant 'crier' - a person who gave a speech from a podium or made announcements.
Garratt is a very old English surname, first appearing in records as early as the 12th century, with one Geoffrey Garat documented in 1219 in Wiltshire, England.
The Garratt surname is most heavily concentrated today in the United Kingdom, where it is most commonly found in London and South East England. It is also found in other English-speaking countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia.
In its hundreds of years of existence, Garratt has also spawned numerous variants, including Garratt, Garrot, Garrette, Garret, and Garretts.
Overall, Garratt is an ancient name, taken today by a diverse mix of people around the world. Its many variants and spellings all contribute to its enduring legacy over hundreds of years.
Order DNA origin analysisGarratt: Where does the name Garratt come from?
The last name Garratt is a relatively uncommon name in the United States, with less than 1,500 instances reported in the 2010 census, or 0.001% of the total population. This compares to around 12,500 instances in the United Kingdom, making it about 0.02% of the total population there, per The Forebears surname database.
The last name Garratt is thought to have originated from the Anglo-Saxon word gerat, which means brave or strong. The surname likely emerged in the Middle Ages, and was borne by a prominent family of knights in Northamptonshire, England.
Today, Garratt is most common in the United Kingdom, with the highest population being found today in Scotland, where around 4% of the population bears the surname. Other countries with significant Garratt populations include New Zealand, Canada, and Australia. In the United States, most Garratts are found in New York, California, and Pennsylvania.
The name Garratt also has a significant presence online, with many modern-day Garratts having their own blogs, business websites, and social media accounts.
Variations of the surname Garratt
Garratt is a surname of English origin with multiple variants. Some common alternate spellings include Garret, Garrett, Gerrit, Garrit, Garrot, Garrott and Garet.
This surname likely originated from the given name Gerard which means "brave spearman". In some cases, it could also originate from the Old French word garite which means "watchtower".
In the United Kingdom, some of the highest concentrations of the Garratt surname are in Lancashire, Buckinghamshire, Greater London, Nottinghamshire, and Warwickshire.
Garratt is also a common surname in Northern Ireland because of a major migration from England to Ireland beginning around 1050 A.D. Additionally, Garratt can now be found throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Other surnames of the same origin, also derived from the given name Gerard, include Gerard, Gerrerd, Gerrard, and Girard. It can also be found in various forms such as Garrieth, Gerardan, Gerraden, Gerredan, Gerrudan, Gerrydan, and Gerreden.
Famous people with the name Garratt
- William Garratt: English stage and film actor.
- Lee Garratt: English former professional footballer.
- Samuel Garratt: English professional rugby league footballer.
- Rebecca Garratt: British actress, known for her roles in Harlots and Shetland.
- Ladislav Garratt: Slovak football coach and former professional footballer.
- Lewis Garratt: English former professional rugby league player.
- Matt Garratt: British actor, known for his work in The Halcyon and Midsomer Murders.
- Dave Garratt: English former professional footballer.
- Colin Garratt: English automotive author and photographer.
- Jack Garratt: English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer.