Surname Garst - Meaning and Origin

Garst: What does the surname Garst mean?

The last name Garst is of German origin. It is a diminutive form of the name “Gar”, which means spear and was a popular name in the Middle Ages. The name Garst refers to someone who is from a place called Garst, which is either a German village, or a place in Switzerland or Denmark.

In Germany, the Garst surname is typically a sign of nobility, indicating a family of higher social status. The name Garst was first found in Prussia, and has roots in Old German, indicating the name was in use from very early on. The name can also appear as “Garstetz” and “Garresten”, often indicating a geographical area such as a city or an area of a village the family came from.

The name may also be occupational, stemming from a garstman, meaning a “comb maker” - someone who would make comb out of animal horns.

Garst is an unusual surname, and was later used in many variations, with some similar-sounding names also being borne by immigrants to the United States from Germany. Today, the name Garst is mainly associated with Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, and the United States. It continues to be a rare but proud surname, with many bearing it across the world.

Garst: Where does the name Garst come from?

The last name Garst is most commonly found in the United States, although it also has some presence in Australia, Canada, and Germany. In the U.S., the name is most concentrated in Midwestern states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Wisconsin, in part due to the fact that the surname was carried by early settlers who hailed from those regions.

There is evidence that the Garst surname has been with some form of presence in North America since the colonial period, when the first settlers named Garst brought the name over from Germany and Switzerland.

The phonetic variant 'Garst' is much more prevalent in the U.S. than the original spelling 'Garste', which is primarily found in German-speaking countries today. In the U.S., the surname is thought to have originally started as an occupational surname, denoting someone who worked on farms, making garstes (carts or wagons) for the purpose of transporting goods.

Over the last century, the Garst name has branched out from the Midwestern states and is now found in all parts of the country, with one in every 2,000 Americans today carrying the name.

Variations of the surname Garst

The surname Garst is of German and Dutch origin, and has multiple spellings and variants, such as Gast, Garstka, Gehrst, Garstang and Gasten. This last spelling is common amongst Dutch-speaking areas. Gehrst is the oldest of the surnames, and is mainly used amongst the German-speaking population.

Variants of Garst can also include Garstka, Garsten, Garstein, Gährst, Gast, Gasten, Garstang and Gastin. All of these surnames are related to the base name Garst, and are mainly found in Germany and the Netherlands.

The most common spelling of Garst is found in the German-speaking population, while Gast and its variants are more common in Dutch-speaking areas. The oldest form of the name, Gehrst, is used primarily amongst German-speaking populations.

In the United States, Garst is primarily found in Pennsylvania. Gast, Garstka, Garsten, Garstein, Gährst, Gasten, Garstang and Gastin are all found throughout the United States as well.

The surname Garst has many variants, but all of them originate from the same root name. Variants of the name are found in both German- and Dutch-speaking areas, and in the United States as well.

Famous people with the name Garst

• Ben Garst: Ben Garst is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Georgia. He is signed to Big Machine Records and has produced two studio albums so far.
• Ross Garst: Ross Garst is a professional cyclist from the United States. He has competed in various divisions in road and mountain bike racing, and is currently a member of the Ambush Endurance Cycling Team.
• Brigadier General Robert Garst: Robert Garst was an American military veteran and politician. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War, and later represented Ohio as a member of the Democratic Party in the United States House of Representatives from 1973 to 1981.
• Harold Garst: Harold Garst is a former Major League Baseball player who played for the Milwaukee Brewers from 1980 to 1989. He was a two-time All-Star and won a Gold Glove Award in 1984.
• Delaney Garst: Delaney Garst is an American esports player and streamer from Arizona. She is best known for competing in the Madden NFL series and is currently signed to FaZe Clan.
• Paul Garst: Paul Garst is an American investor and venture capitalist. He is the founder and managing partner of the venture capital firm Garst Investments, which is focused on investing in, mentoring, and supporting early-stage entrepreneurs.
• Gail Harris Garst: Gail Harris Garst is an American businesswoman and philanthropist from Georgia. She is the founder and CEO of The Garst Group, a marketing and advertising agency, and the executive director of The Garst Foundation.
• Sabrina Garst: Sabrina Garst is an American professional wrestler and actress from Florida. She is best known for her work in promotions such as Women Superstars Uncensored, SHIMMER Women Athletes, and the Warrior Wrestling Federation.

Other surnames

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