UK surname
A Middle English occupational surname for a keeper of granaries or storehouses.
In the 1881 census there were 45 people recorded with the Garnes surname, ranking it #27,314 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 49, ranked #34,957, down from #27,314 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stockport, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Garnes is 227 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.9%.
1881 census count
45
Ranked #27,314
Modern count
49
2016, ranked #34,957
Peak year
1861
227 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Garnes surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Garnes surname density by area, 1891 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 | 80 | #19,558 |
| 1861 | historical | 227 | #10,749 |
| 1881 | historical | 45 | #27,314 |
| 1891 | historical | 172 | #16,663 |
| 1901 | historical | 42 | #29,487 |
| 1911 | historical | 89 | #23,922 |
| 1997 | modern | 49 | #32,776 |
| 1998 | modern | 54 | #32,518 |
| 1999 | modern | 55 | #32,561 |
| 2000 | modern | 54 | #32,710 |
| 2001 | modern | 52 | #32,764 |
| 2002 | modern | 52 | #33,110 |
| 2003 | modern | 51 | #33,266 |
| 2004 | modern | 49 | #33,647 |
| 2005 | modern | 46 | #34,081 |
| 2006 | modern | 51 | #33,992 |
| 2007 | modern | 52 | #34,195 |
| 2008 | modern | 52 | #34,381 |
| 2009 | modern | 51 | #34,612 |
| 2010 | modern | 53 | #34,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 58 | #34,330 |
| 2012 | modern | 52 | #34,709 |
| 2013 | modern | 52 | #34,780 |
| 2014 | modern | 52 | #34,803 |
| 2015 | modern | 47 | #35,056 |
| 2016 | modern | 49 | #34,957 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stockport, London parishes, St Pancras, St John Hackney and Horsham, Sullington. 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 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | St John Hackney | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Horsham, Sullington | Sussex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Garnes 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 Garnes, 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 Garnes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Garnes 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, Garnes 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 Garnes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Garnes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "GARNES" is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period, likely derived from an Old English or Anglo-Norman word related to a profession, location, or personal characteristic. It may have stemmed from the Old English word "garan," meaning "to prepare," or the Norman French "gar," meaning "spear." Alternatively, it could have been a locational surname referring to someone from a place called Garnes or a similar-sounding name.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "GARNES" can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where a person named Willelmus Garnes is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in parts of England by the 13th century. There is also a reference to a John Garnes in the Yorkshire Poll Tax returns of 1379, indicating the presence of the surname in the northern county during the late 14th century.
Throughout the Middle Ages and into the early modern period, variations in spelling were common, and the surname "GARNES" likely appeared in various forms, such as Garns, Garnys, and Garnish, among others. These alternative spellings can be found in various historical records and documents from different regions of England.
Notable individuals bearing the surname "GARNES" include:
1. Thomas Garnes (c. 1530 - 1595), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Morpeth in 1572 and 1586. 2. John Garnes (c. 1575 - 1650), an English clergyman and author who wrote a treatise on the Book of Common Prayer. 3. William Garnes (c. 1610 - 1670), an English landowner and justice of the peace in Warwickshire during the 17th century. 4. Elizabeth Garnes (c. 1645 - 1720), a prominent Quaker author and advocate for women's rights in colonial Pennsylvania. 5. Richard Garnes (c. 1780 - 1858), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a rear admiral in the Royal Navy.
While the surname "GARNES" is not among the most common in England or other parts of the world, it has a long and interesting history dating back to the medieval period, with various potential origins and connections to notable individuals throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Garnes 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 18 Garnes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.10x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 18 | 4.10x |
| Sussex | 8 | 10.81x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 0.96x |
| Surrey | 5 | 2.34x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 5.07x |
| Norfolk | 2 | 2.96x |
| Angus | 1 | 2.46x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.16x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 3.15x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.23x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mile End Old Town London in Middlesex leads with 8 Garnes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 85.65x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Mile End Old Town London | 8 | 85.65x |
| Horsham | 7 | 486.11x |
| Fulham London | 5 | 78.62x |
| Lambeth | 5 | 13.07x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 3 | 19.61x |
| West Derby | 3 | 19.70x |
| Ardwick | 2 | 42.55x |
| Saham Toney | 2 | 1111.11x |
| St George In East London | 2 | 48.43x |
| Aberystruth | 1 | 35.71x |
| Bromley London | 1 | 10.36x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 9.65x |
| East Grinstead | 1 | 95.24x |
| Forfar | 1 | 45.45x |
| Islington London | 1 | 2.35x |
| Kingstanley | 1 | 312.50x |
| Sheffield | 1 | 7.23x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Garnes 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 Garnes 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 Garnes households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Domestic Servant | 2 |
| Bobbing & Carriage Hand | 1 |
| Breakman Railway | 1 |
| Builder | 1 |
| Coal Merchant | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Haulier | 1 |
| Housewife | 1 |
| Independent | 1 |
| Out Porter | 1 |
| Painter & Glazier | 1 |
| Plate Layer | 1 |
| Railway Labourer | 1 |
| Receiver Of Bank Of England Dividends | 1 |
| Seaman | 1 |
| Servant (Dom) | 1 |
| Steward On Board Ship | 1 |
| Vellum Binder | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 45 people were recorded with the Garnes surname. That placed it at #27,314 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 49 in 2016. That gives Garnes a modern rank of #34,957.
A Middle English occupational surname for a keeper of granaries or storehouses.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Garnes 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.