UK surname
An occupational surname derived from the French word "garder," meaning "to guard" or "to protect."
In the 1881 census there were 32 people recorded with the Garder surname, ranking it #29,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12, ranked #37,385, down from #29,082 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ockendon, South, St Leonard Shoreditch and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Garder is 190 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 62.5%.
1881 census count
32
Ranked #29,082
Modern count
12
2016, ranked #37,385
Peak year
1861
190 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Garder surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Garder surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 39 | #26,319 |
| 1861 | historical | 190 | #12,520 |
| 1881 | historical | 32 | #29,082 |
| 1891 | historical | 77 | #27,169 |
| 1901 | historical | 37 | #30,009 |
| 1911 | historical | 26 | #30,547 |
| 1997 | modern | 34 | #34,282 |
| 1998 | modern | 35 | #34,344 |
| 1999 | modern | 20 | #35,923 |
| 2000 | modern | 26 | #35,295 |
| 2001 | modern | 12 | #36,612 |
| 2002 | modern | 13 | #36,570 |
| 2003 | modern | 11 | #36,842 |
| 2004 | modern | 12 | #36,835 |
| 2005 | modern | 13 | #36,833 |
| 2006 | modern | 11 | #37,118 |
| 2007 | modern | 11 | #37,217 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 13 | #37,140 |
| 2010 | modern | 17 | #36,862 |
| 2011 | modern | 18 | #36,739 |
| 2012 | modern | 15 | #36,982 |
| 2013 | modern | 15 | #37,046 |
| 2014 | modern | 15 | #37,070 |
| 2015 | modern | 13 | #37,251 |
| 2016 | modern | 12 | #37,385 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ockendon, South, St Leonard Shoreditch, Manchester, St John Hackney and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ockendon, South | Essex |
| 2 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | St John Hackney | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Garder surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Garder, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Garder surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Garder household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Garder is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Garder is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Garder, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname GARDER has its origins in France, tracing back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "garder," meaning "to guard" or "to protect." This name likely referred to an occupation or duty, suggesting that early bearers of the name were employed as guards or sentries.
The earliest recorded references to the surname GARDER can be found in medieval French records and documents. One notable example is a mention of a "Robert le Garder" in the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Père de Chartres from the year 1196. This Cartulary, a compilation of charters and deeds, provides evidence of the name's existence during this period.
In England, the surname GARDER is believed to have been introduced by Norman settlers after the conquest of 1066. The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname GARDER. However, variations such as "Gardiner" and "Gardener" are present, suggesting a possible connection.
Notable individuals who bore the surname GARDER throughout history include:
1. Jean GARDER (c. 1430-1501), a French lawyer and legal scholar who served as the Lieutenant Criminel of Paris in the late 15th century. 2. Guillaume GARDER (c. 1480-1551), a French Protestant reformer and theologian who played a significant role in the spread of Calvinism in France. 3. Étienne GARDER (c. 1575-1635), a French architect and engineer known for his work on the construction of the Pont Neuf in Paris, one of the city's most famous bridges. 4. Marie-Anne GARDER (1688-1765), a French noblewoman and philanthropist who founded several charitable institutions in Paris during the 18th century. 5. Jacques GARDER (1725-1801), a French explorer and navigator who participated in several expeditions to the Pacific Ocean and mapped parts of the coastline of Western Australia.
While the GARDER surname has French origins, it has since spread to other parts of Europe and beyond, with variations in spelling and pronunciation arising over time. The name's historical significance lies in its connection to the occupational role of guarding and protecting, reflecting the duties and responsibilities of its early bearers.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Garder surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 15 Garders recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.96x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 15 | 4.96x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 1.11x |
| Kent | 3 | 2.91x |
| Aberdeenshire | 2 | 7.14x |
| Argyllshire | 2 | 23.75x |
| Northamptonshire | 2 | 7.03x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 2.11x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 1.02x |
| Peeblesshire | 1 | 70.42x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shoreditch London in Middlesex leads with 8 Garders recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.02x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Shoreditch London | 8 | 61.02x |
| Hornsey | 4 | 104.71x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 3 | 105.26x |
| Plumstead | 3 | 87.21x |
| Aberdeen Old Machar | 2 | 34.19x |
| Dunoon | 2 | 1176.47x |
| Northampton All Sts | 2 | 206.19x |
| St George Hanover Square | 2 | 37.52x |
| Ashborne | 1 | 312.50x |
| Carmunnock | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Eddleston | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Poplar London | 1 | 17.51x |
| West Derby | 1 | 9.52x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Garder surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Garder surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Garder households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Brickmaker | 2 |
| Bricklayers Lab. | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Gen Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Night Watchman | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Platelayer | 1 |
| Shoe Rivitter | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
| Warehouse Man | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 32 people were recorded with the Garder surname. That placed it at #29,082 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 12 in 2016. That gives Garder a modern rank of #37,385.
An occupational surname derived from the French word "garder," meaning "to guard" or "to protect."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Garder bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.