NameCensus.

UK surname

Garrard

Derived from a French place name meaning "garrison," referring to a fortified military encampment.

In the 1881 census there were 1,253 people recorded with the Garrard surname, ranking it #3,248 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,603, ranked #3,878, down from #3,248 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Suffolk, Boston and Ipswich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Garrard is 1,762 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.9%.

1881 census count

1,253

Ranked #3,248

Modern count

1,603

2016, ranked #3,878

Peak year

1999

1,762 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Garrard had 1,253 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,248 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,603 in 2016, ranked #3,878.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,703 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Garrard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Garrard surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Garrard 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 794 #3,358
1861 historical 894 #3,094
1881 historical 1,253 #3,248
1891 historical 1,379 #3,151
1901 historical 1,528 #3,370
1911 historical 1,703 #2,882
1997 modern 1,671 #3,561
1998 modern 1,746 #3,552
1999 modern 1,762 #3,542
2000 modern 1,751 #3,549
2001 modern 1,667 #3,638
2002 modern 1,695 #3,661
2003 modern 1,630 #3,703
2004 modern 1,656 #3,659
2005 modern 1,628 #3,676
2006 modern 1,586 #3,759
2007 modern 1,590 #3,788
2008 modern 1,591 #3,814
2009 modern 1,657 #3,769
2010 modern 1,704 #3,758
2011 modern 1,661 #3,795
2012 modern 1,612 #3,822
2013 modern 1,613 #3,886
2014 modern 1,640 #3,859
2015 modern 1,626 #3,846
2016 modern 1,603 #3,878

Geography

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Where Garrards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch, St Pancras and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Suffolk, Boston, Ipswich and Shropshire. 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 London parishes London 1
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Suffolk 003 Mid Suffolk
2 Boston 001 Boston
3 Ipswich 009 Ipswich
4 Mid Suffolk 007 Mid Suffolk
5 Shropshire 028 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Garrard

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Garrard

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Garrard, 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 Garrard surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Garrard 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Garrard is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Garrard is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Garrard falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Garrard is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Garrard

The surname Garrard is of English origin and dates back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "garder," meaning "to keep" or "to guard," and is related to the modern French word "gardien," meaning "guardian." The name likely originated as an occupational surname for a watchman, guard, or keeper.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Garrard can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1195, where a Richard Garard is mentioned. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where a John Gararde is listed.

The Garrard surname is sometimes associated with places like Garard's Green in Buckinghamshire and Garard's Cross in Hertfordshire, suggesting a possible connection to landowners or places named after early bearers of the name.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir Samuel Garrard (1625-1683), a prominent English silversmith and jewelry maker. He was appointed the Master Worker to the Royal Mint in 1675 and was responsible for designing and producing royal regalia and coins during the reigns of Charles II and James II.

Another historically significant figure was Thomas Garrard (1787-1859), an English watchmaker and inventor who is credited with developing the first successful self-winding watch mechanism in 1823. His invention revolutionized the watchmaking industry and paved the way for the development of modern automatic watches.

In the 16th century, a family of Garrards held the position of Master of the Buckhounds to Queen Elizabeth I. One member of this family, Sir John Garrard (1545-1625), served as Lord Mayor of London in 1601.

Another notable bearer of the name was George Garrard (1760-1826), an English painter and engraver who is best known for his portrait engravings of British royalty and aristocracy. His works are highly regarded and can be found in many art collections around the world.

The Garrard surname has also been associated with the renowned British jewelry company Garrard & Co. Established in 1735, the company has held several prestigious royal warrants and has been responsible for creating many iconic pieces of jewelry for the British royal family over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Garrard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Garrard 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. Middlesex leads with 324 Garrards recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.65x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 324 2.65x
Suffolk 260 17.49x
Surrey 121 2.03x
Essex 106 4.40x
Norfolk 72 3.84x
Yorkshire 51 0.42x
Kent 39 0.94x
Gloucestershire 33 1.38x
Hampshire 30 1.20x
Derbyshire 26 1.36x
Lancashire 20 0.14x
Durham 16 0.44x
Cheshire 15 0.56x
Buckinghamshire 14 1.90x
Warwickshire 13 0.42x
Bedfordshire 12 1.90x
Berkshire 11 1.20x
Lincolnshire 11 0.56x
Northamptonshire 11 0.96x
Northumberland 9 0.50x
Somerset 9 0.46x
Worcestershire 9 0.56x
Cambridgeshire 8 1.04x
Sussex 7 0.34x
Leicestershire 4 0.30x
Midlothian 4 0.24x
Staffordshire 4 0.10x
Carmarthenshire 3 0.58x
Hertfordshire 3 0.36x
Herefordshire 2 0.40x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.12x
Glamorgan 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 0.69x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 37 Garrards recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.41x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 37 5.41x
Lambeth 35 3.29x
St Pancras London 29 2.95x
Shoreditch London 28 5.29x
Ipswich St Peter 27 134.93x
Ipswich St Margaret 26 51.55x
Hammersmith London 20 6.65x
Paddington London 20 4.46x
Islington London 19 1.61x
Kensington London 19 2.80x
Newington 19 4.21x
West Ham 19 3.57x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 18 130.53x
Bethnal Green London 17 3.21x
Tottenham 16 8.23x
Camberwell 15 1.92x
Enfield 15 18.73x
Cheltenham 14 7.58x
Winfarthing 14 555.56x
Feltham 13 106.73x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 12 5.33x
Framlingham 12 113.74x
Spotland 12 7.45x
Brooke 11 372.88x
Ipswich St Clement 11 29.12x
Kelvedon 11 171.34x
Thorndon All Sts 11 411.99x
Deptford St Paul 10 3.11x
Leyton Low 10 20.42x
Middlesbrough 10 6.35x
Clerkenwell London 9 3.12x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 9 20.83x
Poplar London 9 3.91x
Bacton 8 298.51x
Barnes 8 31.81x
Beckenham 8 14.70x
Bow London 8 5.15x
Carshalton 8 35.16x
Colchester St Giles 8 33.61x
Goldhanger 8 384.62x
Greenwich 8 4.12x
Hartford 8 131.36x
Ipswich St Mary At Tower 8 242.42x
Lexden 8 82.73x
Bermondsey 7 1.93x
Bury St Edmunds St James 7 17.63x
Ipswich St Nicholas 7 85.47x
Iver 7 73.61x
Lavenham 7 90.09x
Northampton Priory St 7 10.16x
Prittlewell 7 20.97x
Santon 7 4666.67x
Tynemouth 7 7.20x
Willesden 7 6.09x
Alderton 6 269.06x
Athelington 6 1132.08x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 6 21.51x
Christchurch 6 11.06x
Glossop Dale 6 6.71x
Hasland 6 30.85x
Hornsey 6 3.89x
Ipswich St Helen 6 34.05x
Ipswich St Mathew 6 14.40x
Ixworth 6 143.20x
Kenninghall 6 116.50x
Kirkley 6 48.23x
Merrington 6 85.84x
Mickfield 6 560.75x
Mile End Old Town London 6 2.31x
Romford 6 15.76x
Salford Priors 6 174.42x
St George Hanover Square 6 2.79x
St George In East London 6 5.23x
Stoke 6 21.38x
Stowmarket 6 34.92x
Wyverstone 6 545.45x
Brading 5 15.04x
Polstead 5 144.09x
Rotherham 5 7.33x
Seething 5 304.88x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 73
John 53
George 50
Charles 32
James 30
Frederick 22
Arthur 21
Edward 18
Thomas 18
Henry 17
Alfred 16
Robert 14
Walter 14
Joseph 12
Samuel 11
Albert 10
Ernest 10
Frank 8
Richard 8
Fredk. 7
Francis 5
Herbert 5
J. 5
Geo. 4
Harry 4
Chas. 3
David 3
G. 3
Jno. 3
Percy 3
Reginald 3
Stanley 3
Alfd. 2
Benjamin 2
Christopher 2
Edwin 2
Frederic 2
Fredrick 2
Harold 2
Horace 2
Jeremiah 2
Jesse 2
Jonathan 2
Josiah 2
Lionel 2
Sydney 2
T.W. 2
Wallace 2
Wm. 2
F.A. 1

FAQ

Garrard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Garrard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,253 people were recorded with the Garrard surname. That placed it at #3,248 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Garrard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,603 in 2016. That gives Garrard a modern rank of #3,878.

What does the Garrard surname mean?

Derived from a French place name meaning "garrison," referring to a fortified military encampment.

What does the Garrard map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Garrard 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.