NameCensus.

UK surname

Garfield

A surname of English origin referring to someone who lived in a triangular field or at a triangular road junction.

In the 1881 census there were 473 people recorded with the Garfield surname, ranking it #7,057 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 891, ranked #6,345, up from #7,057 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stibbington, Wolverhampton and Tardebigg. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bridgend and Harborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Garfield is 973 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 88.4%.

1881 census count

473

Ranked #7,057

Modern count

891

2016, ranked #6,345

Peak year

1998

973 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Garfield had 473 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,057 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 891 in 2016, ranked #6,345.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 734 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Garfield surname distribution map

The map shows where the Garfield surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Garfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Garfield over time

The 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 248 #8,840
1861 historical 313 #8,103
1881 historical 473 #7,057
1891 historical 529 #7,085
1901 historical 602 #7,062
1911 historical 734 #5,850
1997 modern 951 #5,715
1998 modern 973 #5,806
1999 modern 972 #5,833
2000 modern 956 #5,902
2001 modern 916 #5,999
2002 modern 939 #5,989
2003 modern 898 #6,099
2004 modern 935 #5,912
2005 modern 899 #6,037
2006 modern 882 #6,127
2007 modern 900 #6,084
2008 modern 900 #6,131
2009 modern 926 #6,117
2010 modern 941 #6,163
2011 modern 931 #6,167
2012 modern 885 #6,323
2013 modern 891 #6,384
2014 modern 893 #6,408
2015 modern 898 #6,336
2016 modern 891 #6,345

Geography

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Where Garfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stibbington, Wolverhampton, Tardebigg, Bromsgrove, Upton Warren and Medbourne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bridgend and Harborough. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Stibbington Lincolnshire
2 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
3 Tardebigg Worcestershire
4 Bromsgrove, Upton Warren Worcestershire
5 Medbourne Rutland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bridgend 004 Bridgend
2 Harborough 007 Harborough
3 Bridgend 005 Bridgend
4 Harborough 008 Harborough
5 Harborough 009 Harborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Garfield

These lists show first names that appear often with the Garfield surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Garfield

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Garfield, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Garfield surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Garfield household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Garfield is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Garfield is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Garfield falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Garfield is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Garfield, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Garfield

The surname Garfield is of English origin and is believed to have emerged in the late 12th century. It is a locational surname derived from the Old English words "gara" meaning "triangular piece of land" and "feld" meaning "field." The name likely originated in the village of Garforth in West Yorkshire, England, which was recorded as Gareford in the Domesday Book of 1086.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Garfield can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1203, where a Hugo de Gareford is mentioned. The surname was initially spelled in various forms, such as Garford, Gareford, and Garforth, before evolving into its modern spelling.

In the 13th century, a Henry de Garford was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire from 1286. The name also appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a John de Garford was listed.

One notable bearer of the surname Garfield was Sir Thomas Garfield (c. 1493-1558), who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1555. Another prominent figure was Samuel Garfield (1595-1672), an English Puritan clergyman and author who emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1636.

In the United States, one of the most famous individuals with the surname Garfield was James A. Garfield (1831-1881), the 20th President of the United States. He was born in Orange, Ohio, and served as a major general in the Union Army during the American Civil War before entering politics.

Other notable Garfields include John Garfield (1913-1952), an American actor known for his roles in classic films such as "The Postman Always Rings Twice" and "Body and Soul," and Cyril Garfield (1892-1939), a British actor and screenwriter who appeared in several silent films and early talkies.

The Garfield surname has also been associated with literary figures, such as Helen Garfield (1877-1966), an American poet and playwright, and William Garfield (1899-1966), an American author and journalist who wrote for The New Yorker and other publications.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Garfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Garfield surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Worcestershire leads with 122 Garfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.21x.

County Total Index
Worcestershire 122 20.21x
Warwickshire 71 6.09x
Northamptonshire 57 13.11x
Leicestershire 54 10.53x
Staffordshire 46 2.95x
Huntingdonshire 22 23.96x
Surrey 21 0.93x
Lancashire 20 0.36x
Middlesex 14 0.30x
Glamorgan 11 1.37x
Nottinghamshire 10 1.60x
Essex 8 0.88x
Yorkshire 6 0.13x
Lincolnshire 4 0.54x
Hertfordshire 2 0.63x
Kent 2 0.13x
Berkshire 1 0.29x
Derbyshire 1 0.14x
Norfolk 1 0.14x
Wiltshire 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 25 Garfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.43x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 25 6.43x
Aston 23 7.16x
Bromsgrove 23 113.19x
Medbourne 21 2386.36x
Oundle 18 370.37x
Redditch 13 106.21x
Stibbington 13 1511.63x
Wolverhampton 13 10.83x
West Bromwich 12 13.43x
Bradford 11 42.83x
Upton Warren 11 2115.38x
Kingswinford 10 17.65x
Northfield 10 87.26x
Stratford On Avon 10 154.56x
Hartlebury 9 250.70x
Leicester St Margaret 9 7.20x
Bingham 8 301.89x
Hanbury 8 490.80x
West Ham 8 3.97x
Castor 7 378.38x
Edgbaston 7 19.36x
Great Bowden 7 150.21x
Hulme 7 6.11x
Newborough 7 630.63x
Sheepy Magna 7 1060.61x
Worcester St Martin 7 85.89x
Finedon 6 157.48x
Harborne 6 12.00x
Streatham 6 17.49x
Warley Wigorn 6 312.50x
Woodstone 6 413.79x
Battersea 5 2.94x
Beoley 5 520.83x
Cwmdu 5 50.97x
Higham Ferrers 5 211.86x
Penarth 5 63.53x
Soothill 5 30.21x
Tottenham 5 6.79x
Deeping St James 4 153.26x
Elmley Lovett 4 727.27x
Stoke Doyle 4 2105.26x
Thornton 4 588.24x
Bermondsey 3 2.18x
Clent 3 188.68x
Fletton 3 102.39x
Handsworth 3 7.80x
Little Bowden 3 197.37x
Newington 3 1.76x
Thorpe Satchville 3 1111.11x
Whistones 3 68.65x
Alvechurch 2 77.82x
Bidford 2 80.32x
Brewood 2 44.44x
Chaddesley Corbett 2 88.50x
Clerkenwell London 2 1.83x
Dodderhill 2 77.52x
Droitwich St Nicholas 2 89.29x
Great Malvern 2 15.87x
Hanley Castle 2 55.40x
Kettering 2 11.37x
Pilton 2 1052.63x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 2.15x
Worcester St Clement 2 52.08x
Albury 1 101.01x
Chelsea London 1 0.72x
Eccleston In Prescot 1 3.63x
Hackney London 1 0.39x
Halifax 1 1.49x
Hitchin 1 6.95x
Knowle 1 41.67x
Milton In Gravesend 1 4.23x
Newark Upon Trent 1 4.46x
Pershore Holy Cross 1 25.84x
Peterborough 1 3.18x
Stoke Newington London 1 2.78x
Stoke Prior 1 26.88x
Stone 1 101.01x
Tichmarsh 1 68.49x
Tur Langton 1 227.27x
Willesden 1 2.29x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Garfield surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 33
Elizabeth 28
Eliza 17
Sarah 16
Ann 13
Hannah 11
Emma 10
Martha 7
Emily 6
Jane 6
Ada 5
Alice 5
Louisa 5
Annie 4
Caroline 4
Ellen 4
Harriet 3
Lizzie 3
Lucy 3
Maria 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Betsy 2
Charlotte 2
Eliza. 2
Esther 2
Frances 2
Harriett 2
Leah 2
Rosannah 2
Ruth 2
Susannah 2
Anne 1
Celia 1
Dinah 1
E. 1
Emila 1
Ethel 1
Fannie 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Levinia 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Garfield surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 33
John 28
George 20
Thomas 16
James 15
Joseph 14
Henry 10
Edward 9
Charles 7
Robert 7
Alfred 6
Frank 6
Albert 4
Samuel 4
Benjamin 3
Herbert 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Addison 2
Arthur 2
Clarence 2
Edmund 2
Harry 2
Isaac 2
Richard 2
Archie 1
Arnold 1
Auther 1
Bernard 1
David 1
E... 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Geo 1
Leonard 1
Lionel 1
Mary 1
Oliver 1
Reuben 1
Saml.Jas. 1
Smalley 1
Spencer 1
Uriah 1

FAQ

Garfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Garfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 473 people were recorded with the Garfield surname. That placed it at #7,057 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Garfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 891 in 2016. That gives Garfield a modern rank of #6,345.

What does the Garfield surname mean?

A surname of English origin referring to someone who lived in a triangular field or at a triangular road junction.

What does the Garfield map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Garfield bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.