UK surname
An English surname derived from the Anglo-Norman French "garry", meaning "grove" or "wood".
In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Garrey surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #26,869 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, Toxteth Park and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Garrey is 158 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 85.4%.
1881 census count
48
Ranked #26,869
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1861
158 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Garrey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Garrey 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 | 91 | #18,187 |
| 1861 | historical | 158 | #14,644 |
| 1881 | historical | 48 | #26,869 |
| 1891 | historical | 71 | #27,934 |
| 1901 | historical | 40 | #29,678 |
| 1911 | historical | 15 | #31,938 |
| 1997 | modern | 9 | #37,214 |
| 1998 | modern | 10 | #37,048 |
| 1999 | modern | 10 | #37,072 |
| 2000 | modern | 9 | #37,119 |
| 2001 | modern | 9 | #36,980 |
| 2002 | modern | 9 | #37,051 |
| 2003 | modern | 8 | #37,248 |
| 2004 | modern | 4 | #38,013 |
| 2005 | modern | 7 | #37,581 |
| 2006 | modern | 5 | #37,956 |
| 2007 | modern | 5 | #38,004 |
| 2008 | modern | 7 | #37,735 |
| 2009 | modern | 6 | #37,953 |
| 2010 | modern | 6 | #38,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 8 | #37,740 |
| 2013 | modern | 8 | #37,767 |
| 2014 | modern | 7 | #37,929 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, Toxteth Park, Gateshead, Manchester and Teingrace. 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 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 3 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Teingrace | Devon |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Garrey 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 Garrey, 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 Garrey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Garrey 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, Garrey 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 Garrey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Garrey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Garrey has its origins in northern France, specifically in the regions of Normandy and Brittany. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "garer," meaning "to protect" or "to guard." This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname for someone who worked as a guard or protector.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Garrey can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this document, the name appears as "Garei," likely referring to a Norman landowner or tenant.
During the Middle Ages, the name Garrey was primarily concentrated in northern France and parts of England, particularly in areas with strong Norman influence. Variations in spelling, such as "Garry," "Garray," and "Garey," were common due to inconsistencies in record-keeping and regional dialects.
Notable individuals with the surname Garrey throughout history include:
1. Sir Robert Garrey (c. 1350-1412), an English soldier who fought in the Hundred Years' War and was knighted for his valor on the battlefield.
2. Jean Garrey (c. 1520-1585), a French merchant and explorer who established trade routes in North Africa and the Mediterranean region.
3. Elizabeth Garrey (c. 1620-1680), one of the first English settlers in the Massachusetts Bay Colony and a member of the Puritan community in Boston.
4. William Garrey (1766-1834), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and was commended for his leadership in several battles.
5. Émilie Garrey (1825-1898), a French artist renowned for her intricate landscape paintings and who exhibited works in the prestigious Paris Salon.
While the surname Garrey has its roots in northern France, it eventually spread to other parts of Europe and beyond as families migrated and settled in new regions. Over time, the name has taken on various spellings and pronunciations, reflecting the diverse cultural and linguistic influences it has encountered throughout its history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Garrey 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. Lancashire leads with 10 Garreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.80x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 10 | 1.80x |
| Warwickshire | 7 | 5.93x |
| Devon | 6 | 6.16x |
| Angus | 4 | 9.23x |
| Durham | 4 | 2.87x |
| Surrey | 4 | 1.75x |
| Cheshire | 3 | 2.90x |
| Ayrshire | 2 | 5.71x |
| Dumfriesshire | 2 | 19.34x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.43x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 1.36x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.21x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 1.75x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 1.64x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 7 Garreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.79x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 7 | 17.79x |
| Teigngrace | 6 | 20000.00x |
| Liff Benvie | 4 | 60.79x |
| Liverpool | 4 | 11.86x |
| Wigan | 4 | 51.55x |
| Chester St John Baptist | 3 | 161.29x |
| Battersea | 2 | 11.61x |
| Bishop Auckland | 2 | 106.95x |
| Holywood | 2 | 1176.47x |
| Loudoun | 2 | 238.10x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 1 | 8.24x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 3.35x |
| Chesterfield | 1 | 36.36x |
| Escomb | 1 | 156.25x |
| Gateshead | 1 | 9.60x |
| Ipswich St Clement | 1 | 68.97x |
| Islington London | 1 | 2.20x |
| Kirkdale | 1 | 10.71x |
| Kirkleatham | 1 | 158.73x |
| Oldbury | 1 | 33.22x |
| Southwark Christchurch | 1 | 45.66x |
| Wilton In Guisbrough | 1 | 476.19x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Garrey 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 Garrey 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 Garrey households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| Barman | 1 |
| Confectioner | 1 |
| Confectioner Wife | 1 |
| Corn Porter | 1 |
| Cotton Operative | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Genl Laborer | 1 |
| Horticultural Lab | 1 |
| Iron Shearer | 1 |
| Labourer Ironworks | 1 |
| Labr | 1 |
| Marine Store Dealer | 1 |
| Nail Cutter | 1 |
| Nurse Monthly | 1 |
| Servant General | 1 |
| Ships Carpenter | 1 |
| Umbrella Maker | 1 |
| Visitor | 1 |
| Washerwoman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Garrey surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Garrey a modern rank of #37,967.
An English surname derived from the Anglo-Norman French "garry", meaning "grove" or "wood".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Garrey 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.