Garett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

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." 1

Not all of the family made the crossing with the Conqueror as Roger and William Garet were both listed in Normandy in 1180. A few years later, Arnulph and William Garet were also listed there in 1198. 2

Early Origins of the Garett family

The surname Garett was first found in Lincolnshire, where a Geraddus filius Simonis is on record in 1242 in Liber Feodorum. The same source also included Peter Geraud son of Robert Gerold 1250-1251 in Northumberland. 3

Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included the family as a forename and surname: Johannes Gerard; Thomas Gerard; and Gyrerd Tolus. 1 In Cumberland, Thomas Gerad was listed there in the Subsidy Rolls of 1332. 4

In Somerset, Adam Garet was registered there 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign) 5 and John Gerad was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1230. 4

Early History of the Garett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Garett research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1379, 1511, 1551, 1560, 1579, 1594, 1597, 1603, 1621, 1640, 1641, 1642, 1648, 1650 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Garett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Garett Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Garett family name include Garrett, Garratt, Garret, Garrat, Garet, Garitt, Garatt and many more.

Early Notables of the Garett family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Thomas Gerard, 1st Baronet (1560-1621), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1597 and 1621. He was the son of Sir Thomas Gerard, of Bryn and his wife Elizabeth Port, daughter of Sir John Port, of Etwall, Derbyshire. George Garrett or Garrard (1579- after 1650), was an English Member of Parliament. He was a younger son of Sir William Garrard of Dorney Court, Buckinghamshire. He was educated at Merton...
Another 84 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Garett Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Garett Ranking

In the United States, the name Garett is the 18,700^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Garett family to Ireland

Some of the Garett family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Garett family

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Garett family to immigrate North America: Hannah and Richard Garrett, who came to Salem, Massachusetts in 1630; Eliz. Garrett, who came to Virginia in 1632; Richard West Garrett, who arrived in St. Christopher in 1635.

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)

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/