Surname Gartshore - Meaning and Origin
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Gartshore: What does the surname Gartshore mean?
The last name Gartshore is a toponymic surname derived from the Old English word “Garth” and the Scots term “shor”. The toponymic name signifies an individual with a dwelling or place of origin near or around a particular area with specifically identified boundaries.
The family name is believed to have originated in the lowlands of eastern Scotland involving the nearby counties of Ayrshire, Berwickshire, and Midlothian. The spellings of Gartshore over the centuries have included Gaitshore, Gettschor, and Gartschaw.
The Gartshore family were closely associated with the area of Yester, in East Lothian, where they had a castle by the same name. It was a stronghold for the family and its associated surname. The Gartshore family had been recognised as a major noble house by the mid-1700s and was made a baron of Scotland for its contributions to the defense of the realm. The family had its ups and downs and power over time, but was once famously declared as sealed to the "thron of Scotland.
In addition, the surname Gartshore can be found prevalently in the northern English counties of Durham and Northumberland. Here, the Gartshore family name is equally recognisable and respected.
Overall, the surname Gartshore signifies a figurative 'ancient stone bridge' that united the family over land and time – a link between blood and tradition across the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisGartshore: Where does the name Gartshore come from?
The last name Gartshore is most common today in England and Scotland, where it can be found in rural locations as well as larger towns and cities. It has been traced back to the 11th century in both countries when a family of Scottish-Norse origins settled in the lands on the north of Scotland. It was also later to be found in many southern English counties.
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the last name Gartshore and its variants were most commonly found in the Lowland areas of Scotland such as Dumfries and Galloway, Ayrshire, and the Lothians. Since then, it has spread throughout England with modern examples in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Shropshire and Kent.
In terms of other countries, there are some examples of the last name Gartshore in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, typically as a result of people having left the British Isles at some stage in the last century or two. There are also some cases in the United States.
Overall, however, it can be said that Gartshore is very much still a British Isles name with more-or-less equal representation among England and Scotland.
Variations of the surname Gartshore
The variations, spellings and surnames that all derive from the same origin as Gartshore are Gartshore, Gartshor, Garthshore, Garsthor, Garthsher, Garthsore, Gartshorre and Garstshor.
Gartshore is an anglicised spelling of its original gaelic form, Gairt Thoir. It is believed to have originated in the eastern part of Ayrshire, Scotland. Traditionally, the surname was originally used to describe someone who lived close to or on the land of a man named Gart. The spelling Gartshore reflects the pronunciation of the surname in Scotland and Northern England.
Garthshore is a variation of Gartshore. The phonetic spelling of the name suggests a slightly different pronunciation to the Scottish version of the surname as it removes the 'sh' sound from the surname.
Gartshor is another variation of Gartshore and has been used regularly by descendants of the original Gairt Thoir family. This spelling is believed to have originated in the Northern areas of England.
Garsthor is a combination of the two spellings and is believed to have originated in Southern Scotland. It was mainly used in the mid-1700s.
Garthsher and Garthsore are two variations that originated in eastern Scotland and are believed to have been used mainly by the family of the original Gairt Thoir before the 1700s.
Finally, Gartshorre and Garstshor are the two contemporary spellings of Gartshore. They have become popular among descendants of the original Gairt Thoir family, both in Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom.
Famous people with the name Gartshore
- Billy Gartshore: British actor and theatre director.
- Matthew Gartshore: Australian senior academic in Health Economics.
- Alan Gartshore: Swiss Olympic athlete in the sport of Alpine skiing.
- Lucinda Gartshore: Canadian Voice Actress.
- Joanna Gartshore: Scottish-American Hollywood journalist and critic.
- Noel Gartshore: Canadian National Soccer League player.
- Ruth Gartshore: British painter and sculptor.
- Dianne Gartshore: New Zealand marathon runner.
- Peter Gartshore: Scottish violinist, composer, and conductor.
- Stephen Gartshore: American author and Xanadu enthusiast.