NameCensus.

UK surname

Garry

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic surname Ó Gadhra, meaning "descendant of Gadhra" (a personal name).

In the 1881 census there were 539 people recorded with the Garry surname, ranking it #6,395 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,061, ranked #5,505, up from #6,395 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Aycliffe, London parishes and Auckland St Andrew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rossendale, Wigan and St. Helens.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Garry is 1,061 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 96.8%.

1881 census count

539

Ranked #6,395

Modern count

1,061

2016, ranked #5,505

Peak year

2016

1,061 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Garry had 539 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,395 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,061 in 2016, ranked #5,505.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 580 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Garry surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Garry surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Garry 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 270 #8,275
1861 historical 458 #5,668
1881 historical 539 #6,395
1891 historical 578 #6,594
1901 historical 580 #7,253
1911 historical 489 #7,959
1997 modern 896 #5,983
1998 modern 919 #6,053
1999 modern 972 #5,833
2000 modern 951 #5,918
2001 modern 933 #5,899
2002 modern 968 #5,834
2003 modern 941 #5,877
2004 modern 955 #5,822
2005 modern 940 #5,827
2006 modern 919 #5,945
2007 modern 944 #5,881
2008 modern 957 #5,847
2009 modern 995 #5,787
2010 modern 1,018 #5,798
2011 modern 1,002 #5,812
2012 modern 980 #5,829
2013 modern 1,006 #5,790
2014 modern 1,038 #5,684
2015 modern 1,032 #5,667
2016 modern 1,061 #5,505

Geography

Back to top

Where Garrys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Aycliffe, London parishes, Auckland St Andrew, Edinburgh and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rossendale, Wigan, St. Helens and Oxford. 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 Aycliffe Durham
2 London parishes London 3
3 Auckland St Andrew Durham
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rossendale 009 Rossendale
2 Wigan 010 Wigan
3 St. Helens 015 St. Helens
4 Wigan 006 Wigan
5 Oxford 005 Oxford

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Garry

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Garry

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Garry, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Garry surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Garry household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Garry is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Garry is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Garry falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Garry is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Garry

The surname Garry originated in Scotland during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "garbh," which means "rough" or "rugged," likely referring to the harsh terrain of the Scottish Highlands where the name first emerged. The name was often associated with people who lived in remote, mountainous areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Garry can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the late 13th century, where it appears as "Garvie." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

In the 14th century, the name Garry was particularly prevalent in the regions of Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire, where several families bearing this surname were recorded in local charters and land records.

A notable historical figure with the surname Garry was Sir Thomas Garry, a Scottish nobleman who lived in the late 16th century. He was a loyal supporter of King James VI of Scotland and played a significant role in the political affairs of the time.

Another prominent individual was Robert Garry, a Scottish philosopher and educator who lived in the 18th century (1728-1794). He was a respected scholar and served as a professor at Marischal College in Aberdeen.

In the 19th century, the name Garry was associated with several influential figures, including James Garry (1808-1879), a Scottish architect who designed numerous notable buildings in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Additionally, John Garry (1843-1921) was a Scottish engineer and inventor who contributed significantly to the development of early steam engines and locomotives.

The surname Garry can also be traced to the place name "Garry Bridge" in Perthshire, Scotland, which likely derived its name from the Gaelic word "garbh" referring to the rugged terrain surrounding the area.

Throughout history, the surname Garry has maintained its Scottish heritage and has been carried by individuals across various professions, from nobility and academics to architects and engineers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Garry families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Garry 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. Lancashire leads with 142 Garrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.28x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 142 2.28x
Durham 109 6.98x
Yorkshire 49 0.94x
Middlesex 29 0.55x
Lanarkshire 26 1.53x
Midlothian 24 3.41x
Cheshire 21 1.81x
Ayrshire 18 4.58x
Warwickshire 17 1.28x
Angus 13 2.67x
Renfrewshire 12 2.95x
Northumberland 11 1.41x
Staffordshire 11 0.62x
Cumberland 8 1.77x
Devon 8 0.73x
Fife 7 2.25x
Gloucestershire 4 0.39x
Surrey 4 0.16x
Glamorgan 3 0.33x
Herefordshire 3 1.39x
Kent 3 0.17x
Shropshire 3 0.66x
Berkshire 2 0.51x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.94x
Northamptonshire 2 0.41x
Channel Islands 1 0.64x
Cornwall 1 0.17x
Hampshire 1 0.09x
Merionethshire 1 1.04x
Nairnshire 1 6.24x
Perthshire 1 0.42x
Royal Navy 1 1.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 27 Garrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.64x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 27 9.64x
Birmingham 17 3.85x
Great Aycliffe 15 993.38x
Darlington 13 21.57x
Oldham 12 5.97x
Liverpool 11 2.91x
Stranton 11 20.93x
Warrington 11 14.90x
Bishop Auckland 10 47.73x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 9 3.18x
Govan 9 2.14x
Montrose 9 30.55x
Northowram 9 24.68x
Pemberton 9 36.25x
Tranmere 9 21.14x
Westleigh 9 63.65x
Ashton In Makerfield 8 45.12x
Hornsey 8 12.06x
Monkwearmouth 8 53.55x
Stockton On Tees 8 10.63x
Toxteth Park 8 3.79x
Alnwick 7 52.16x
Barony 7 1.63x
Lasswade 7 43.56x
Old Monkland 7 10.39x
Port Glasgow 7 35.61x
St George Hanover Square 7 7.57x
Auchterderran 6 76.82x
Auckinleck 6 49.34x
Leeds 6 2.04x
Oswaldtwistle 6 27.27x
Sheffield 6 3.62x
Bishopwearmouth 5 3.73x
Coxhoe 5 112.87x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 5 7.39x
Manningham 5 7.80x
North Leith 5 15.37x
St Marylebone London 5 1.78x
Wigan 5 5.75x
Ardrossan 4 29.41x
Battersea 4 2.07x
Bury 4 5.62x
Cathcart 4 18.18x
Dundee 4 2.20x
East Thickley 4 126.18x
Great Little Marsden 4 14.02x
Islington London 4 0.79x
Maybole 4 33.44x
Pittington 4 91.12x
Raby Keverstone 4 800.00x
Tonge 4 30.60x
Tynemouth 4 9.56x
Yealmpton 4 238.10x
York Holy Trinity Kings 4 373.83x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 2.20x
Barrow In Furness 3 3.54x
Birkenhead 3 3.25x
Bridlington 3 25.19x
Chester St John Baptist 3 14.41x
Dundonald 3 20.72x
Edinburgh Old Church 3 53.19x
Glasgow 3 1.00x
Great Bolton 3 3.64x
Hartlepool 3 13.52x
Longtown 3 225.56x
Newcastle Higher 3 48.39x
Stockport 3 5.03x
Throston 3 100.00x
Whitehaven 3 12.46x
Whittington 3 82.87x
Wolstanton 3 5.58x
Brightside Bierlow 2 1.96x
Eccleston In Prescot 2 6.40x
Heighington 2 175.44x
Middlesbrough 2 2.95x
Millom 2 14.44x
Newcastle Under Lyme 2 6.38x
Newton In Makerfield 2 10.49x
Stonehouse East 2 36.10x
York St Mary 2 9.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 49
Ann 15
Elizabeth 12
Sarah 12
Bridget 10
Margaret 9
Catherine 8
Ellen 8
Jane 8
Alice 6
Annie 5
Eliza 5
Emily 5
Kate 5
Agnes 3
Elizth. 3
Maria 3
Alicia 2
Amelia 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Emma 2
Harriet 2
Jessie 2
Laura 2
Louisa 2
Anne 1
Charlotte 1
Christiana 1
Edwin 1
Eleanor 1
Elva 1
Emiyly 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Georgina 1
Hannah 1
Joana 1
Julia 1
Letitia 1
Lydia 1
M. 1
Marcella 1
Margarett 1
Margret 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Mildred 1
Minnie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 43
Thomas 28
James 22
William 18
Michael 17
George 7
Edward 6
Patrick 6
Charles 5
Henry 5
Joseph 5
Martin 4
Robert 4
Roger 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Anthony 2
Frederick 2
Nicholas 2
Peter 2
Richard 2
Willm. 2
Bartley 1
Benjamin 1
Brokey 1
Daniel 1
Edwin 1
Elliot 1
Ewin 1
Francis 1
Harry 1
Hugh 1
J. 1
Jos. 1
Josh. 1
Liddell 1
Louis 1
Matthew 1
Mich 1
Michel 1
Patt 1
Percival 1
Robt 1
Saml.Jno. 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
T.John 1
Tarence 1
Thos. 1
W. 1

FAQ

Garry surname: questions and answers

How common was the Garry surname in 1881?

In 1881, 539 people were recorded with the Garry surname. That placed it at #6,395 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Garry surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,061 in 2016. That gives Garry a modern rank of #5,505.

What does the Garry surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic surname Ó Gadhra, meaning "descendant of Gadhra" (a personal name).

What does the Garry map show?

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