Surname Garsés - Meaning and Origin

Garsés: What does the surname Garsés mean?

The last name Garsés is of Spanish, Portuguese, and Catalan origin. The literal meaning of the name comes from the Latin phrase “Garsea”, which is a combination of two words that mean “fortified camp”. This indicates that the name originates from a family who may have owned a fortified camp, been employed at one, or lived near one.

In Spain, this surname is most concentrated in the provinces of Barcelona and Tarragona in Catalonia, as well as in the Basque Country, Madrid, and Valencia. It is also found in many Latin American countries, including Mexico, Argentina, and Peru.

Although the surname Garsés can have a variety of spellings, such as Gasés, Garsez, Garcés, or Gárces, it is typically associated with a family who share a long history and is indicative of their Spanish roots.

The name can be indicative of a family from an ancient profession or it could reflect the location of their origins. However, regardless of the origin, the surname Garsés continues to serve as a symbol of pride and heritage for many families around the world.

Garsés: Where does the name Garsés come from?

The last name Garsés is most commonly found today in the Iberian Peninsula, particularly Spain and Portugal. The regions of Catalonia, Galicia, and parts of Andalusia, Murcia, and Valencia in Spain, and the Northern regions of Portugal are particularly concentrated with Garsés families.

The presence of this surname in the Iberian Peninsula dates back to its immigration from France in the Middle Ages. There, around 1285, Bernardo Garsés, a well-known French knight in service of King Edward of England, was granted some land in the region of Lérida, which was then part of the Kingdom of Aragon.

The Garsés family in Spain and Portugal grew steadily in the following centuries in multiple locations such as the Spanish provinces of Burgos, Cáceres, Soria, and Palencia, the Portuguese districts of Braga and Lisbon, and even in some parts of the Basque Country.

The various Garsés families present today in Spain and Portugal are therefore mainly descendants of this original French-origin branch, who would have localised or joined other families throughout the centuries.

Modern-day members of the Garsés family can be found across the world, although in most cases they still have strong links to their ancestral homeland, whether by land protection, nostalgic trips, or the presence of direct descendants in current times.

Variations of the surname Garsés

Garsés is an uncommon Spanish surname and can be spelt in several ways. The spelling, Garsés, can be spelled as Garses, Gárses, Gárces, Garsés, Gárzas, Gárceses, Gárzis, Garzas and Gárcas.

All these variants are phonetically similar and most likely originated from the same common ancestor. The meaning of this name is not known, but it can be traced to the Catalan region, specifically the town of Ondara in the province of Valencia in Spain.

The Catalan language is very similar to Spanish and it is thought that the name Garsés originated in this region. It is believed that the name was derived from a place-name in the region or from the Basque region.

The surnames Garsés and Gárses are associated with prominent Hispanic families. There were notable Garsés families in regions such as Chile, Mexico, Peru and Spain.

The name can be found in records from the 1600s, indicating that the family was probably of long standing. In Spain there is a 17th century Spanish Inquisition document referring to a Garsés family.

Other variant spellings of this surname could include Gársez, Gárçez, Garcez, Garcés or Garces. This evidence suggests that the Garsés name has been passed on from generation to generation for centuries.

It is thought that most modern Garsés and variants are closely related, and could all be descended from the same ancient family.

Famous people with the name Garsés

• Emilio Garsés, Spanish television presenter
• Santiago Garsés, Spanish film director
• Manuel Garsés, Spanish Olympic swimmer
• Maria Garsés, Spanish actress
• Antonio Garsés, Spanish soccer player
• Pau Garsés, Spanish politician
• George Garsés, American actor
• Ivan Garsés, Spanish composer
• Julia Garsés, Spanish tennis player
• Alejandro Garsés, Spanish musician

Other surnames

Garsea