Garcia History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsTuscany, one of the oldest and most beautiful island regions of Italy, is the esteemed birthplace of numerous prominent families, including the family that bears the surname Garcia. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adapt a second name to identify themselves as populations grew and travel became more frequent. The process of adopting fixed hereditary surnames was not complete until the modern era; the use of hereditary family names in Italy began in the 10th and 11th centuries. Italian hereditary surnames were developed according to fairly general principles and they are characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. Although the most common type of family name found in Tuscany is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's givenname, names derived from occupations are also found. Occupational surnames, which are less common that other types of surnames in Italy, date back to the feudal era. However, under the Feudal System, occupational names did not become hereditary until the offices themselves became hereditary. It was only after an occupation was inherited by several generations in lineal descent, that occupational names came to be applied to entire families, and so became a hereditary surname. The surname Garcia is a name for a person who used a wire-toothed brush, to prepare and untangle hemp fibers. This surname is derived from the word garzolo, which means carded hemp, from the vulgar Latin verb cardjare. The surname may also be of nickname origin, derived from the Italian word garza which means heron, and was given to a tall, slender individual. Early Origins of the Garcia familyThe surname Garcia was first found in Lucca, a city and comune in Tuscany, capital of the province of Lucca where Bascilican type churches abound and where the main branch of the family originates. Records can be found with the Garzoni family, who moved from Lucca to Bologna in 1228. Early History of the Garcia familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Garcia research. The years 1419, 1506, 1638, 1668, 1706 and 1721 are included under the topic Early Garcia History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Garcia Spelling VariationsThere are many variations of most of those Italian names that originated in the medieval era. Some of these come from regional differences, like the tradition of ending northern names in "o" and southern names in "i". Others come from inaccuracies in the recording process, which were extremely common in the eras before dictionaries standardized spelling. Some of the spelling variations of Garcia are Garzia, Garzya, Garsia, Garcia, Garcea, Garzaria, Garzadori, Garzetta and many more. Early Notables of the Garcia familyProminent among members of the family was Giovanni Garzoni (1419-1506) an Italian humanist and physician from Bologna, where he was professor of medicine and teacher of rhetoric; Pietro Garsia, a knight from Valenza who moved to Sicily and acquired the feudal territories of Colobra and Savochetta. With these lands came the titles of Baron and Marquis. Gerardo Garzia was Governor of Monte di Pieta in Palermo in 1668. Luigi Garzi (1638-1721), was... Garcia World RankingIn the United States, the name Garcia is the 18th most popular surname with an estimated 631,698 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Garcia is ranked the 500th most popular surname with an estimated 9,793 people with that name. 2 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Garcia is the 810th popular surname. 3 France ranks Garcia as 15th with 68,720 people. 4 South America ranks Garcia as 4th with 411 people. 5
The records on immigrants and ships' passengers show a number of people bearing the name Garcia: Garcia Settlers in United States in the 16th Century
Garcia Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Garcia Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Garcia Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Garcia Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 9 Garcia Settlers in West Indies in the 16th Century
Garcia Settlers in West Indies in the 19th Century
St. Francis Dam
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