UK surname
An occupational surname derived from an Old French word meaning "gamekeeper" or "forester".
In the 1881 census there were 100 people recorded with the Garrie surname, ranking it #19,750 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 65, ranked #34,017, down from #19,750 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Beath, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Garrie is 164 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 35.0%.
1881 census count
100
Ranked #19,750
Modern count
65
2016, ranked #34,017
Peak year
1901
164 bearers
Map years
3
1881 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Garrie surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Garrie surname density by area, 1881 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 | 78 | #19,840 |
| 1861 | historical | 79 | #23,702 |
| 1881 | historical | 100 | #19,750 |
| 1891 | historical | 109 | #22,701 |
| 1901 | historical | 164 | #17,144 |
| 1911 | historical | 20 | #31,288 |
| 1997 | modern | 62 | #31,412 |
| 1998 | modern | 61 | #31,841 |
| 1999 | modern | 62 | #31,893 |
| 2000 | modern | 59 | #32,217 |
| 2001 | modern | 58 | #32,180 |
| 2002 | modern | 56 | #32,753 |
| 2003 | modern | 56 | #32,797 |
| 2004 | modern | 53 | #33,336 |
| 2005 | modern | 53 | #33,528 |
| 2006 | modern | 58 | #33,433 |
| 2007 | modern | 56 | #33,875 |
| 2008 | modern | 52 | #34,381 |
| 2009 | modern | 57 | #34,225 |
| 2010 | modern | 58 | #34,346 |
| 2011 | modern | 57 | #34,393 |
| 2012 | modern | 59 | #34,352 |
| 2013 | modern | 63 | #34,193 |
| 2014 | modern | 64 | #34,141 |
| 2015 | modern | 65 | #34,036 |
| 2016 | modern | 65 | #34,017 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Beath, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Perth and Liverpool. 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 | Beath | Fife |
| 2 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 3 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 4 | Perth | Perth |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Garrie 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 Garrie, 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 Garrie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Garrie 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, Garrie 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 Garrie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Garrie, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname GARRIE is believed to have originated in Scotland, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "gàrradh," meaning "garden" or "enclosure," suggesting that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near or worked in a garden or enclosed area.
One of the earliest known bearers of the GARRIE surname was John Garrie, who was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, around 1580. He was mentioned in several local records from the late 16th and early 17th centuries, indicating that the name was already established in that region during that time period.
In the 17th century, the GARRIE surname appeared in various Scottish parish records, particularly in the counties of Aberdeenshire, Angus, and Perthshire. This suggests that the name may have spread from its original location to other parts of Scotland during this period.
A notable figure bearing the GARRIE surname was James Garrie, a Scottish merchant and trader who lived in the late 17th century. He was involved in the lucrative trade between Scotland and the Netherlands, and his name appears in several shipping manifests and business records from the time.
Another individual worth mentioning is Robert Garrie, a farmer and landowner from Aberdeenshire who was born in 1725. He is mentioned in several land records and leases from the mid-18th century, indicating that the GARRIE surname was still prevalent in the region during that time.
In the 19th century, the GARRIE surname was found in various historical records from Scotland, including census records, birth and death registers, and military records. One notable individual was John Garrie, a Scottish soldier who served in the British Army during the Crimean War (1853-1856).
While the GARRIE surname is predominantly Scottish in origin, it has since spread to other parts of the world through emigration and migration. However, its roots can be traced back to the Scottish Highlands and the Gaelic language, where it likely originated as a descriptive name for someone associated with gardens or enclosed areas.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Garrie 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. Ayrshire leads with 24 Garries recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.88x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Ayrshire | 24 | 32.88x |
| Midlothian | 20 | 15.30x |
| Angus | 15 | 16.60x |
| Fife | 11 | 19.05x |
| Lanarkshire | 5 | 1.58x |
| Perthshire | 5 | 11.42x |
| Kincardineshire | 4 | 33.67x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.35x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.41x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.31x |
| Aberdeenshire | 2 | 2.21x |
| Renfrewshire | 2 | 2.65x |
| Stirlingshire | 1 | 2.78x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 8 Garries recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.71x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Dundee | 8 | 23.71x |
| South Leith | 8 | 54.42x |
| Dundonald | 7 | 260.22x |
| Dalry | 6 | 174.42x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 6 | 11.41x |
| North Leith | 6 | 99.17x |
| Barony | 5 | 6.26x |
| Liff Benvie | 5 | 36.44x |
| Marykirk | 4 | 816.33x |
| Scoonie | 4 | 320.00x |
| Auchterderran | 3 | 206.90x |
| Chelsea London | 3 | 10.21x |
| Craigie | 3 | 1500.00x |
| Markinch | 3 | 153.06x |
| Muirkirk | 3 | 175.44x |
| Settrington | 3 | 1578.95x |
| Monzie | 2 | 800.00x |
| Peterhead | 2 | 41.84x |
| Port Glasgow | 2 | 54.79x |
| St Vigeans | 2 | 40.98x |
| Symington | 2 | 869.57x |
| Tibbermore | 2 | 317.46x |
| Toxteth Park | 2 | 5.10x |
| Auchterarder | 1 | 81.97x |
| Auckinleck | 1 | 44.25x |
| Ayr | 1 | 28.99x |
| Blackburn | 1 | 3.25x |
| Burntisland | 1 | 62.11x |
| Fenwick | 1 | 256.41x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.06x |
| Larbert | 1 | 46.51x |
| Wigan | 1 | 6.18x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Garrie 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 Garrie 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 Garrie households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Apprentice To Draper | 1 |
| Domestic | 1 |
| Gardener (ND) | 1 |
| Grainer | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Iron Miner | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 100 people were recorded with the Garrie surname. That placed it at #19,750 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 65 in 2016. That gives Garrie a modern rank of #34,017.
An occupational surname derived from an Old French word meaning "gamekeeper" or "forester".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Garrie 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.