Garway History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Garway has a long Anglo-Saxon heritage. The name comes from when a family lived on a road near a field or piece of land that was triangular in shape. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Old English words gara, meaning "triangular piece of land," and weg, meaning "path" or "road."

Early Origins of the Garway family

The surname Garway was first found in Herefordshire at Garway, a parish, in the union of Monmouth, Lower division of the hundred of Wormelow. 1 2

One of the first records of the family was Walter de Garewy who was listed there in 1228. A few years later, William and Walter Garwy were listed in Essex in 1236 and later in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1327. John Gorewy was listed in the Assize Rolls for Kent in 1317. 3

Early History of the Garway family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Garway research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1575, 1595, 1617, 1639, 1646, 1661, 1679, 1681, 1685, 1689 and 1701 are included under the topic Early Garway History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Garway Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Garway have been found, including Garroway, Garreway, Carroway, Garraway, Carraway and others.

Early Notables of the Garway family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

William Garway or Garraway (1617-1701) was an English politician from Ford, Sussex, son of Sir Henry Garraway. William was a Member (MP) of the Parliament of England for Chichester in 1661 and for Aru...

Migration of the Garway family to Ireland

Some of the Garway family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Garway family

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Garway, or a variant listed above: Joan Carroway and her husband John, who settled in Virginia in 1635; Roger Carroway settled in Nevis in 1654; along with his brother William; Jeremiah Garroway settled in Annapolis Maryland in 1723.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)