Garfinkel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England
• Ireland

Etymology of Garfinkel

The name Garfinkel is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in the area that was referred to as the gar-field. The surname Garfinkel was taken literally from the Old English words garr and feld which literally mean the grassy land or pasture.

Early Origins of the Garfinkel family

Early History of the Garfinkel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Garfinkel research. Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Garfinkel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Garfinkel Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Garfinkel are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Garfinkel include: Garfield, Garfeild and others.

Early Notables of the Garfinkel family

More information is included under the topic Early Garfinkel Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Garfinkel Ranking

the United States, the name Garfinkel is the 15,194^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Garfinkel family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Garfinkel or a variant listed above: Edward Garfield who arrived in New England in 1630; Benjamin Garfield, who settled in Watertown, MA in 1689; S. and W. Garfield, who arrived in Acapulco Mexico in 1852.