Early Origins of the Garthwaite family
The surname Garthwaite was first found in
Durham where they held a
family seat on the English/Scottish border. After the
Norman Conquest of
England many of Duke William's rebellious Barons moved north. The border became a convenient no-man's land. Notable families such as the Percy, the Umfravilles and the Nevilles gathered many supporting clans around them. In the 16th century they became known as the 'unruly clans'. In that century, many of those clans drove their herds south, and they settled in
Yorkshire and
Lancashire. The name was first recorded in the 14th century.
Early History of the Garthwaite family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Garthwaite research.
Another 175 words (12 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Garthwaite History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Garthwaite Spelling Variations
Although the name, Garthwaite, appeared in many references, from time to time, the surname was shown with the spellings Garthwaite, Gartwaite, Garthwhite, Garthwait and many more.
Early Notables of the Garthwaite family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Garthwaite Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Garthwaite family to the New World and Oceana
Gradually becoming disenchanted with life in
Ireland many of these uprooted families sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships often arrived with only 60 to 70% of their original passenger list, many dying of cholera, typhoid, dysentery or small pox. In North America, some of the first immigrants who could be considered kinsmen of the Garthwaite family name Garthwaite, or who bore a variation of the surname were settlers, who arrived along the eastern seaboard, from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands.
Contemporary Notables of the name Garthwaite (post 1700)
- Oona Garthwaite, American singer-songwriter
- Phil Garthwaite (b. 1972), American Democratic Party member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
- Anna Maria Garthwaite (1688-1763), English textile designer
- Peter Fawcitt Garthwaite OBE (1909-2001), British president of the Royal Society of Forestry of England, Wales and Northern Ireland from 1972 to 1974