UK surname
A shortened form of the German surname Garrecht, meaning "spear-right," referring to a soldier skilled with a spear.
In the 1881 census there were 44 people recorded with the Garr surname, ranking it #27,447 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 62, ranked #34,227, down from #27,447 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Swanscombe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Garr is 129 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.9%.
1881 census count
44
Ranked #27,447
Modern count
62
2016, ranked #34,227
Peak year
1861
129 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Garr surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Garr 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 | 64 | #21,914 |
| 1861 | historical | 129 | #17,271 |
| 1881 | historical | 44 | #27,447 |
| 1891 | historical | 106 | #23,105 |
| 1901 | historical | 80 | #25,251 |
| 1911 | historical | 75 | #25,322 |
| 1997 | modern | 49 | #32,776 |
| 1998 | modern | 48 | #33,111 |
| 1999 | modern | 55 | #32,561 |
| 2000 | modern | 51 | #32,999 |
| 2001 | modern | 47 | #33,219 |
| 2002 | modern | 50 | #33,282 |
| 2003 | modern | 53 | #33,076 |
| 2004 | modern | 51 | #33,478 |
| 2005 | modern | 44 | #34,255 |
| 2006 | modern | 47 | #34,335 |
| 2007 | modern | 48 | #34,488 |
| 2008 | modern | 50 | #34,521 |
| 2009 | modern | 55 | #34,355 |
| 2010 | modern | 69 | #33,560 |
| 2011 | modern | 58 | #34,330 |
| 2012 | modern | 59 | #34,352 |
| 2013 | modern | 58 | #34,488 |
| 2014 | modern | 57 | #34,556 |
| 2015 | modern | 57 | #34,519 |
| 2016 | modern | 62 | #34,227 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Swanscombe, Monkwearmouth and Manchester. 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 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Swanscombe | Kent |
| 4 | Monkwearmouth | Durham |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Garr 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 Garr, 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 Garr surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Garr 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, Garr 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 Garr is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Garr, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname GARR has its origins in Germany, where it is believed to have emerged in the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century. It is derived from the Old German word "gar," which means "spear" or "lance," suggesting that the name may have originally been an occupational name for someone who made or used spears or lances.
During the medieval period, the GARR surname was found primarily in the northern regions of Germany, particularly in areas like Saxony and Westphalia. Some early variations of the spelling included Garr, Garre, and Gahr, reflecting the regional dialects and linguistic differences of that time.
One of the earliest recorded references to the GARR name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from the region of Saxony, dating back to the 13th century. This document mentions a certain "Henricus Garre," indicating the presence of the name in that area during that period.
In the 15th century, a notable figure bearing the GARR surname was Johannes Garr, a German clergyman and scholar who lived from 1415 to 1482. He served as a professor at the University of Erfurt and was known for his works on theology and philosophy.
Another historical figure with the GARR surname was Hans Garr, a 16th-century German craftsman and woodcarver who was active in the city of Nuremberg. His intricate woodcarvings adorned many churches and buildings in the region, and his work is still admired today for its artistic and technical mastery.
Moving into the 17th century, a prominent individual with the GARR surname was Johann Garr, a German jurist and legal scholar who lived from 1605 to 1677. He served as a judge in the city of Leipzig and wrote several influential treatises on German law and legal principles.
In the 18th century, the GARR surname was associated with the German botanist and naturalist Johann Christoph Garr, who lived from 1725 to 1788. He made significant contributions to the study of plant life and is particularly known for his extensive work on the flora of Germany.
Throughout its history, the GARR surname has also been linked to various place names in Germany, such as the town of Garhausen, which likely derived its name from the Old German word "gar," similar to the origin of the surname itself.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Garr 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. Durham leads with 11 Garrs recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.62x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 11 | 8.62x |
| Berkshire | 6 | 18.63x |
| Kent | 5 | 3.41x |
| Northumberland | 5 | 7.83x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.79x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 0.94x |
| Surrey | 3 | 1.43x |
| Devon | 2 | 2.24x |
| Flintshire | 1 | 8.67x |
| Huntingdonshire | 1 | 11.74x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.72x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 3.77x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Reading St Lawrence in Berkshire leads with 6 Garrs recorded in 1881 and an index of 869.57x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Reading St Lawrence | 6 | 869.57x |
| Heugh | 5 | 10000.00x |
| St Giles | 4 | 500.00x |
| Thornton In Bradford | 4 | 281.69x |
| Tonbridge | 4 | 75.76x |
| Camberwell | 3 | 10.94x |
| Monkwearmouth Shore | 3 | 120.48x |
| Exeter St Sidwell | 2 | 97.56x |
| Manchester | 2 | 8.73x |
| Stranton | 2 | 46.51x |
| Barrow In Furness | 1 | 14.43x |
| Darlington | 1 | 20.28x |
| Eccleston In Prescot | 1 | 39.06x |
| Glasgow | 1 | 4.06x |
| Oxford St Giles | 1 | 79.37x |
| Ramsgate | 1 | 41.84x |
| Sherburn House | 1 | 3333.33x |
| St Asaph | 1 | 434.78x |
| Stilton | 1 | 1000.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Garr 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 Garr 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 Garr households.
FAQ
In 1881, 44 people were recorded with the Garr surname. That placed it at #27,447 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 62 in 2016. That gives Garr a modern rank of #34,227.
A shortened form of the German surname Garrecht, meaning "spear-right," referring to a soldier skilled with a spear.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Garr 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.