Surname Garven - Meaning and Origin

Garven: What does the surname Garven mean?

The last name Garven is of British origin and has a number of possible origins. It is believed to be of Scottish background and may be derived from the Old English personal name Garwine. In this case the name Garven would be derived from the pre-seventh century personal name "Garwine", which means "Spear Friend". This is also the meaning of the Gaelic name Garbhain, which is another possible origin of the surname.

Garven may also be derived from a place name such as Garvan, in Lancashire. It could also be an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Garbhant, derived from the words "garbh," meaning "rough," and "bant," meaning "field." In this case the name would mean "rough field."

Finally, the name Garven or Garvin may be derived from the French name Garouvin, an occupational name for a watchman or guard. It is derived from the French phrase garder, which means "to guard" or "to protect."

Although the exact origin of the name Garven is not certain, its derivations point to an original meaning of strength and protection. The use of the personal name Garwine as an origin also suggests a reputation of dependability and loyalty, traits one would likely want in a warrior and friend.

Garven: Where does the name Garven come from?

The last name Garven is a relatively rare name throughout the world, but there are some notable populations where it is more common. It originated in Scotland, and most people of this name still reside there and throughout the United Kingdom today. People with the last name Garven can also be found in countries that were historically connected to the British Empire, such as Canada, Australia, and South Africa.

In the United States of America, the last name Garven is not as commonly found, but there are a handful of concentrations dispersed throughout the country where it can be found. The most prominent being in the states of Indiana and Wisconsin, followed by North Carolina, New Jersey, and California.

When attempting to locate Garvens elsewhere throughout the world, one may have difficulty, as it is not a widely dispersed last name. Some locales of concentration exist in smaller pockets, such as Greece, the Netherlands, and Israel.

The last name Garven is not a common one, but due to historical migrations, it can still be found throughout the world in places where British colonial rule held influence in the past.

Variations of the surname Garven

The surname Garven is of French origin. It is a diminutive of the French given name Garvais, which in turn is derived from the Latin word Garvioldus, meaning "spear ruler". Variations of the Garven surname include Garvan, Garwin, Garvens, Garvans, Garvines, and Garvons.

Garven is also spelled in the archaic French form Garve and other variants such as Garvein, Garves, Garveau, Garvaud, Garveot, Garvault, Garvel, Garveon, Garvenne, and Garveson. The d'garven ending is also used in some variations.

In the United Kingdom, the Garven surname can also be found spelled Garvin and Gervin, and in Ireland, it might be spelled Gervan and Gervon. It can also be found spelled as Garvanne, which originated in the south of France.

In the United States, some variants of the Garven surname have become anglicized and adopted different spellings. For example, Gervais is spelled as Jarvis, and Garvey is spelled as Garvie. Garvene is sometimes spelled as Garvin.

Overall, the surname Garven is found in several variants across different parts of the world. Variations of the name include Garvan, Garvens, Garvans, Garvines, Garvons, Garve, Garvein, Garves, Garveau, Garvaud, Garveot, Garvault, Garvel, Garveon, Garvenne, Garveson, Garvin, Gervin, Gervan, Gervon, Garvenne, Jarvis, Garvie, and Garvin.

Famous people with the name Garven

• Edward Garven: A newsreader and announcer for CBS network in the 1950s.
• Alexander Garven: Former head of the political science department at the University of British Columbia.
• Michael Garven: American actor, best known for appearing in films such as Five days in Summer (1968) and Capricorn 2 (1979).
• Colin Garven: A retired manufacturer, former President and CEO of Eastern Products Corporation in New Jersey.
• David Garven: Owner and founder of a nationwide global branding and marketing firm in the US.
• Eileen Garven: Actress best known for her roles in British television comedies such as The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976).
• Chris Garven: Writer/director best known for his feature films, Trapped in the Closet (2005) and Johnny Valentine (2010).
• Christina Garven: An actress known for appearing in films such as Escape to Witch Mountain (1974) and The Parent Trap (1998).
• Garven Rudisill: American television writer and producer who worked on shows such as The Wonder Years (1988-1993).
• Alex Garven: Canadian ice hockey player who was selected in the fourth round of the NHL Entry Draft in 2008.

Other surnames

Garvey