Surname Garretson - Meaning and Origin
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Garretson: What does the surname Garretson mean?
The surname Garretson is of Medieval English origin, derived from the personal name Gerard which means 'spear-brave'. This was merged with the popular Middle English suffix '-son', indicating 'son of', thus conveying 'son of Gerard'. The name was often given to the eldest son, reflecting the inheritance customs of the Middle Ages. To some extent, the spelling of the name itself was influenced by regional dialects and phonetic spellings, resulting in multiple variations such as Garretson, Garrison, Gerrardson, and others. Over time, families carrying this name have migrated widely, establishing branches in several countries including the United States, Canada, and Australia. The variations of the name are reflective of the rich linguistic diversity of the British Isles, as well as the impact of historical migration and cultural assimilation. Today, the surname Garretson and its variants represent descendants of those ancient bearers, spread across the globe, each interpreting and embodying their connection to the name differently.
Order DNA origin analysisGarretson: Where does the name Garretson come from?
The surname Garretson is of English origin and is derived from the first name Gerard. Over time and through different variations, the name transformed into its present form. The addition of suffix 'son' suggests 'son of Garrett,' indicating a patronymic origin.
The first recordings of the Garretson surname can be traced back to England in the early 17th century. The name became widely used in America due to early immigration. In the United States, the name was often spelled differently due to the phonetic transcription by immigration officials, leading to variations such as Garratson, Garretson, Gerritson, and others.
Today, the surname Garretson is most common in the United States, followed by Canada, Australia, and England. Despite its English origin, the distribution of the Garretson name within England is relatively less.
Variations of the surname Garretson
The surname Garretson has various variants and similar spellings. Some of these include Garretsen, Garretsonn, Garretzon, Garreson, Garrotson, and even the more simplified Garrett.
This surname originates from the personal name Gerard, which is an old Germanic name. Therefore, it has numerous other cognates and similar surnames in other languages, all from the same root. For example, in English, we find the names Garratt, Garrett, Jarret, Gerrish, Gerrard, Garard, Garrod, and Garred. In other languages, surnames that are of the same Linguistic origin include Gerard (French), Gerhard (German), Gherardi (Italian), Gerardus (Dutch), and Geras (Czech and Slovak).
These surnames are patronymic. The "son" or "sen" suffix means "son of", thus Garretson or Garretsen can be interpreted as "son of Garrett" or "son of Gerard".
It is also worth mentioning that due to the phonetic complexity and variety of dialects, surnames were often written as they were pronounced, which lead to several variants of the same name within families or even for a single person in different documents or records.
Famous people with the name Garretson
- There are not many well-known people with the last name Garretson, but here are a few:
- Darell Garretson: An American professional basketball referee in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 27 years from 1967 to 1994.
- Dick Garretson: Son of Darell, Dick also followed in his father's footsteps to become a professional basketball referee in the NBA.
- Cynthia Garretson: An accomplished equestrian and dressage trainer who has made a name for herself in horse training circles.
- James S. Garretson: A 19th-century American surgeon and dentist who was known for his work on diseases of the oral cavity and contributions to dental surgery.
- Carolee Conklin: Formerly Carolee Garretson, she is a former member of the Rochester City Council in New York.
- LaRue Garretson: An American actress from the early 20th century who appeared in silent films such as "The Failure" and "The Clouded Name". As you can see, the Garretson name might not be the most famous one out there, but it is shared by individuals from various fields, each making their mark in their own way.