| ![Show Contents]() Garett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Although the Garett surname came to Britain with the Normans, it derives from the Germanic personal names Gerard, or Gerald, composed of the elements "gar," or "ger," meaning "spear," "hard," meaning "brave," or "strong," and "wald," meaning "rule." The Anglo-Norman surname Garett in Ireland was often Mac Gerailt, and was used as a synonym of Fitzgerald. Early Origins of the Garett familyThe surname Garett was first found in County Carlow (Irish: Cheatharlach) a small landlocked area located in the province of Leinster in the South East of Ireland, where some of the name may have come from Anglicized versions of MacOrcachta, believed to be descended from Cathal, brother of Teige Mor, of the powerful O'Connors of Connacht. However, it is thought that the majority of this name in Ireland are of English (Norman) stock. Early History of the Garett familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Garett research. Another 27 words (2 lines of text) covering the year 1598 is included under the topic Early Garett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Garett Spelling VariationsPronunciation, rather than spelling, guided the early scribes and church officials in recording names. This process of estimation often produced to the misleading result of one person's name being recorded under several different spellings. Numerous spelling variations of the surname Garett are preserved in documents of the family history. The various spellings of that name included Garrett, Garratt, MacGarrett, McGarraty, Garret, Garrat, Garet, Garitt, Garatt and many more. Early Notables of the Garett familyMore information is included under the topic Early Garett Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Garett RankingIn the United States, the name Garett is the 18,700th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 Migration of the Garett familyDuring the late 18th and 19th centuries hundreds, of thousands of Irish left their homeland for North American shores. The earlier settlers left for the promise of free land or to participate in the development of what was seen as a new land. This pattern of immigration continued for many years, growing at a slow but steady pace. The 1840s, however, forever disrupted this pattern. In that decade, Ireland experienced an unprecedented plague of disease, starvation, and death, all of which were produced by the failure of the island's potato crop. That decade alone the numbers of people leaving the island rivaled all of the previous years of Irish immigration combined. When these large immigrants hit North American shores they unfortunately encountered more discrimination from the established population. They were, however, very warmly received by industrialists and those with a passion for nation building. The former saw the Irish as a cheap source of labor required for the extraction of coal and lumber, and the manufacture of products, the latter regarded them as a means to occupy the west and to construct the essential bridges, railways, canals, and roadways required by an industrialized nation. Whenever and however the Irish arrived in North America, they were instrumental to the development of what would become the great nations of the United States and Canada. Immigration and passenger lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the old Irish name of Garett: Adam Garrett, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1779; Henry Garrett, who came to New York, NY in 1803; Edwin Garrett, who arrived in New York, NY in 1821.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Garett (post 1700) | + |
- Garett Maggart (b. 1969), American actor, son of Brandon Maggart
- Garett Hickling (1970-1995), Canadian gold medalist wheelchair rugby player on the Canada national wheelchair rugby team, MVP at several the World Championships (1995, 1998 and 2002)
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Semper fidelis
Motto Translation: Always faithful.
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England
Ireland
