Garratt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The late 18th saw the beginnings of a steady pattern of immigration out of Ireland. These initial settlers were drawn to North America by the promise of land. The prospect of their own tract of land to work solely for themselves was especially appealing to those that rented out farmland in Ireland from English landowners who were frequently absent. These immigrants were critical to occupying the land of the eastern United States and British North America. This pattern continued steadily until the 1840s when the Great Potato Famine sparked a major exodus of Irish families. Unlike their predecessors, the Irish were frequently destitute and desperate, and North America was regarded as holding more promise than trying to eke out an existence in Ireland - if they survived the disease and starvation that the famine had created. This great mass of people frequently experienced more racial discrimination by the general population when they arrived on North American shores, but they were warmly received by those industrialists with coal mines to work, products to manufacture, and railways to build. These Irish immigrants provided the nations of the United States and, what would later become Canada, with the cheap labor that was required for their rapid development as major industrialized nations. Whenever and however Irish immigrants came to North America, they were instrumental to its cultural, economic, and industrial development. Immigration and passenger lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the name Garratt:

Garratt Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Samuell Garratt, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 1

Garratt Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• James Hann Garratt, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1873 1

Garratt Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. Samuel Garratt, British Convict who was convicted in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 8th April 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 2
• George Garratt, English convict from London, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 29, 1828, settling in New South Wales, Australia 3
• Mr. William Garratt, British Convict who was convicted in Bedford, England for 14 years for theft, transported aboard the "Asia" on 25th April 1840, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
• Job Garratt, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "William Mitchell" in 1840 5
• Louisa Garratt, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "William Mitchell" in 1840 5
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Garratt Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Mr. Thomas L. Garratt, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Light Brigade" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 26th August 1868 6

• John Garratt, English politician, Lord Mayor of London in 1824-25
• Chris Garratt, English co-creator of the Biff cartoon character
• Wayne Malcolm Garratt (1968-1992), British speedway rider, active from 1986 through 1992 when he died as a result of a crash on Sunday, September 13th at Brough Park
• Nick Garratt, Australian women's sculling team coach at the 2008 Summer Olympics
• Martin Blake George Garratt (b. 1980), English former football midfielder
• Humphry Stone Garratt (1898-1974), English cricketer, active in the 1920s
• Herbert William Garratt (1864-1913), English mechanical engineer, inventor of the Garratt system of articulated locomotives
• Steven Arthur Garratt (b. 1953), English cricket umpire from Nottingham