| ![Show Contents]() Garstang History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Garstang is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Garstang family lived in the territory of Garstang. Located north in the county of Lancashire, Garstang was a bustling market town where much commerce was exchanged. In early history many gentlefolk of prospective villages or places of settlement often adopted surnames from their locale. So those who came from Garstang included this name as part of their surname to distinguish or identify themselves. In Old English Garstang means spear pole, which was often used as a reference marker to establish borders between villages or counties. 1 Early Origins of the Garstang familyThe surname Garstang was first found in Lancashire where they held a family seat from early times as Lords of the manor of Garstang. At the time of the taking of the Domesday Book in 1086, Garstang, originally known as Cherestanc and was the King's land. 2 This northern Lancashire town and parish was a market town. A branch of the family were later recorded in Dumfriesshire in Scotland in 1305. 3 Early History of the Garstang familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Garstang research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1490 and 1970 are included under the topic Early Garstang History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Garstang Spelling VariationsEndless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Garstang, Gairstang, Garstange, Cherestanc and others. Early Notables of the Garstang familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was - Nicholas Garstang of Lancashire
Migration of the Garstang familyTo escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Garstang or a variant listed above: Joseph Gairstange who landed in America in 1710.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Garstang (post 1700) | + |
- Timi Garstang (b. 1987), American-born, Marshallese track athlete at the 2012 Summer Olympics
- Jim Garstang, English pianist for the Cathedral Quartet from 1972 through 1973
- Walter Garstang FLS FZS (1868-1949), English Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford and Professor of Zoology at the University of Leeds
- Walter Lucian Garstang B.Sc. M.A., Retired,, English former Headmaster of the Roan School, Greenwich
- Cecil Garstang CBE, English Director, Thos. Cook & Sons Ltd., England
- John Garstang (1876-1956), British archaeologist of the ancient Near East, younger brother of Walter Garstang
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
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