Garth History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Irish immigrants began to leave the English-controlled Ireland in sizable numbers during the late 18th century. Many of these Irish immigrated to British North America or the United States in the hopes of gaining their own tract of farmland. This pattern of migration grew steadily until the 1840s when the Great Potato Famine caused a great exodus of immigrants to North America. These immigrants differed from their predecessors in that they were desperately fleeing the disease and starvation that plagued their homeland, and many were entirely destitute when they arrived in North America. Although these penniless immigrants were not warmly welcomed when they arrived, they were critical to the rapid development of the United States and what would become known as Canada. Many went to populate the western frontiers and others provided the cheap labor the new manufacturing sector and the building of bridges, roads, railways, and canals required. A thorough examination of immigration and passenger lists has revealed some of the earliest people to arrive in North America with name Garth or one of its variants:

Garth Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• George Garth, who arrived in Virginia in 1664 4

Garth Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Hans Geo Garth, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1738 4
• Hans Jurg Garth, aged 43, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 4
• John Garth, aged 39, who landed in Virginia in 1773 4

Garth Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Susanna Margaretha Garth, who landed in America in 1836 4
• Anthony Garth, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1838 4
• Margarethe Garth, who landed in America in 1840 4
• William Garth, who arrived in Kentucky in 1850 4
• Karolina Garth, who arrived in America in 1853 4

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Garth Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Michael Garth, who arrived in Quebec in 1850

Garth Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Prudence Garth, who arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship "John Renwick" in 1837 5
• Mr. John Garth, English convict who was convicted in Norwich, Norfolk, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Duncan" on 10th December 1840, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
• William Garth, aged 37, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Dirigo" 7

• Leonard I. Garth (1921-2016), American jurist, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (1973-1986)
• George Garth (1733-1819), British General, Commander in the American Revolutionary War, Colonel of the 17th Regiment of Foot, Lieutenant Governor of Placentia, Newfoundland
• Jennifer Eve "Jennie" Garth (b. 1972), American actress
• Charles Garth MP (1734-1784), MP for Devizes, British colonial agent, South Carolina
• John Garth (1721-1810), English composer of Durham who began his great work, the adaptation of the ‘First Fifty Psalms of Marcello’ to the English version, in 1757 8
• Charles Garth (1734-1784), British Government Agent for South Carolina, Georgia and Maryland
• John Garth (1701-1764), British politician, Member of Parliament for Devizes (1740–1764)
• Sir Richard Garth PC, QC (1820-1903), Chief Justice of Bengal and Privy Counselor
• General Thomas Garth (1744-1829), British Army officer and chief equerry to King George III
• Sir William Garth Morrison KT, CBE, DL (1943-2013), British Chief Scout of the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories from 1988 to 1996