Show ContentsGarlic History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Garlic family

The surname Garlic was first found in Cambridgeshire where Robert Garlec is generally understood to be the first record of the family as listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. The rather obvious misnomer that the name was a nickname for "'a garlick-monger', or a peasant; one who smelt of garlick" [1] has generally been dispelled. However, with that understanding, the name could have an occupational name for a spicer who cultivated and sold the onion. "Lancashire and Yorkshire were strongly represented by this name; they are so still." [1] "This is also an ancient name in the east of England. In the 13th century it occurred as Garlec in Cambridgeshire and as Garlek in Norfolk." [2] However, we can find no records of these place names surviving today. A rather rare surname, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Margareta Garlek there at that time. [1] A few years later, again in Yorkshire, Gilbert Garlek was listed there in 1491. (Reeney)

Early History of the Garlic family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Garlic research. Another 60 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1330, 1555, 1560, 1588, 1661 and 1711 are included under the topic Early Garlic History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Garlic Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Garlwick, Garleck, Garlick, Garlicke, Gallic and others.

Early Notables of the Garlic family

Notable of this family during the Middle Ages was

  • Blessed Nicholas Garlick (c. 1555-1588), an English catholic priest, martyred in Derby in the reign of Queen Elizabeth

Migration of the Garlic family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Robt. Garlick who settled in Virginia in 1650; John Garlick settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1847; another John Garlick settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1842.



  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.


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