NameCensus.

UK surname

Garth

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "enclosed garden" or "triangular piece of land."

In the 1881 census there were 664 people recorded with the Garth surname, ranking it #5,418 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 658, ranked #8,097, down from #5,418 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, Hampsthwaite and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, Craven and Oldham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Garth is 730 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.9%.

1881 census count

664

Ranked #5,418

Modern count

658

2016, ranked #8,097

Peak year

1999

730 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Garth had 664 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,418 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 658 in 2016, ranked #8,097.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 710 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Garth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Garth surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Garth 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 512 #4,886
1861 historical 487 #5,363
1881 historical 664 #5,418
1891 historical 692 #5,665
1901 historical 710 #6,211
1911 historical 692 #6,137
1997 modern 677 #7,438
1998 modern 704 #7,445
1999 modern 730 #7,290
2000 modern 729 #7,270
2001 modern 703 #7,344
2002 modern 700 #7,511
2003 modern 679 #7,576
2004 modern 685 #7,526
2005 modern 664 #7,660
2006 modern 672 #7,607
2007 modern 678 #7,633
2008 modern 680 #7,655
2009 modern 700 #7,643
2010 modern 710 #7,700
2011 modern 681 #7,852
2012 modern 630 #8,275
2013 modern 644 #8,275
2014 modern 656 #8,194
2015 modern 657 #8,121
2016 modern 658 #8,097

Geography

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Where Garths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lancaster Borough, Hampsthwaite, Preston, Bradford and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, Craven, Oldham and Lancaster. 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 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
2 Hampsthwaite Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Preston Lancashire
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 003 Doncaster
2 Craven 001 Craven
3 Doncaster 001 Doncaster
4 Oldham 030 Oldham
5 Lancaster 019 Lancaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Garth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Garth

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Garth surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Garth household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Garth is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Garth is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Garth 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 Garth is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Garth

The surname Garth is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "gearth" or "geard," meaning an enclosed yard or garden. It was originally a topographic name, given to someone who lived near or worked in a garden or enclosed piece of land.

The name can be traced back to the Middle Ages, and one of the earliest recorded instances of the surname appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, compiled by order of William the Conqueror. Here, it is spelled as "Gerde" and refers to a landowner in the county of Somerset.

During the 12th and 13th centuries, the surname began to appear in various forms, such as "Gard," "Gerde," and "Gard de la Garth." These variations reflect the local dialects and spellings of the time. The modern spelling of "Garth" became more standardized in the 16th century.

One notable early bearer of the name was Sir Thomas Garth (c. 1505-1585), a prominent English judge and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as a Justice of the Common Pleas and was involved in the trial of Mary, Queen of Scots.

Another historical figure with this surname was Sir Samuel Garth (1661-1719), an English poet, physician, and playwright. He is best known for his satirical mock-heroic poem "The Dispensary," which pokes fun at the conflicts between physicians and apothecaries in London at the time.

In the 18th century, John Garth (1701-1766) was a notable English author and translator. He is remembered for his translation of Ovid's "Metamorphoses" and his work as a literary critic.

Moving into the 19th century, Sir Richard Garth (1820-1903) was a prominent British lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Bengal in British India. He played a significant role in shaping the legal system of colonial India.

Lastly, John Garth (1944-2022) was a modern-day British author and scholar who was widely regarded as the world's leading expert on J.R.R. Tolkien. His book "Tolkien and the Great War" explored the influence of World War I on Tolkien's writing and life.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Garth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Garth 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 243 Garths recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.16x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 243 3.16x
Yorkshire 233 3.63x
Lanarkshire 39 1.86x
Durham 27 1.40x
Middlesex 22 0.34x
Surrey 22 0.70x
Cheshire 17 1.19x
Kent 11 0.50x
Stirlingshire 7 2.93x
Northumberland 5 0.52x
Westmorland 5 3.51x
Denbighshire 4 1.63x
Devon 4 0.30x
Angus 3 0.50x
Derbyshire 3 0.30x
Somerset 3 0.29x
Sussex 3 0.27x
Warwickshire 3 0.18x
Essex 2 0.16x
Midlothian 2 0.23x
Berkshire 1 0.21x
Gloucestershire 1 0.08x
Hertfordshire 1 0.22x
Lincolnshire 1 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.11x
West Lothian 1 1.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 78 Garths recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.93x.

Place Total Index
Preston 78 37.93x
Leeds 27 7.45x
Barony 24 4.53x
Lancaster 24 52.48x
Oldham 20 8.06x
Thornton In Bradford 17 79.55x
Idle 14 47.04x
Thornthwaite Cum 13 2363.64x
Allerton 11 134.47x
Crompton 11 50.25x
Pudsey 11 32.06x
Bishopwearmouth 10 6.05x
Dalton In Furness 9 30.33x
Eccleshill 9 57.62x
Glasgow 9 2.42x
Thruscross 9 1285.71x
Otley 8 51.35x
Bolton Le Sands 7 402.30x
Brotton 7 83.53x
Dalton In Kendal 7 2592.59x
Denny 7 55.07x
Hollingworth 7 118.64x
Horton In Bradford 7 6.98x
Ingleton 7 193.91x
Nether Kellet 7 1129.03x
Pennington In Ulverston 7 183.25x
York St Mary Castlegate 7 370.37x
Ashton Under Lyne 6 3.57x
Batley 6 9.84x
Camberwell 6 1.45x
Fulham London 6 6.39x
Hunslet 6 5.99x
Liverpool 6 1.29x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 6 76.73x
Monks Coppenhall 6 11.12x
Armley 5 17.66x
Blackburn 5 2.45x
Bulk 5 1923.08x
Covington 5 510.20x
Deptford St Paul 5 2.93x
Gateshead 5 3.47x
Grinton 5 595.24x
Hulme 5 3.12x
Lambeth 5 0.89x
Pilkington 5 17.12x
Ravensworth 5 847.46x
South Otterington 5 649.35x
St Giles 5 41.56x
Byker 4 8.40x
Carnforth 4 94.79x
Darlington 4 5.38x
Elland Cum Greetland 4 13.84x
Everton 4 1.63x
Guisbrough 4 28.51x
Handsworth 4 23.57x
Littleham 4 40.57x
Livesey 4 29.65x
Long Ditton 4 77.67x
Manchester 4 1.16x
Ruabon 4 11.89x
Shipley 4 12.01x
St Pancras London 4 0.77x
Stockport 4 5.44x
West Layton 4 2352.94x
Birmingham 3 0.55x
Brighton 3 1.36x
Dundee 3 1.34x
Hampstead London 3 2.97x
Hartwith Cum Winsley 3 127.66x
Holbeck 3 7.06x
Levens 3 142.86x
Leyland 3 22.44x
Long Eaton 3 22.40x
Bradford 2 1.29x
Marfleet 2 487.80x
Middlesbrough 2 2.39x
Rotherhithe 2 2.50x
Salford 2 0.88x
Southcoates 2 5.61x
Stranton 2 3.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 47
Sarah 30
Elizabeth 17
Margaret 15
Ellen 14
Ann 13
Annie 12
Jane 12
Emily 8
Hannah 7
Alice 6
Ada 5
Eliza 5
Martha 5
Susannah 5
Edith 4
Emma 4
Harriet 4
Nancy 4
Frances 3
Grace 3
Isabella 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Barbara 2
Charlotte 2
Eleanor 2
Elizh. 2
Ellenor 2
Esther 2
Eveline 2
Harriett 2
Helen 2
Margret 2
Maria 2
Phoebe 2
Rose 2
Ruth 2
Sushanah 2
Anna 1
Christiana 1
Christina 1
Clara 1
Dinah 1
Ellah 1
Elleanor 1
Jeanette 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Laura 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 39
William 32
Thomas 24
James 19
Richard 11
Robert 11
Joseph 9
George 8
Albert 7
Samuel 7
Edward 6
Harry 6
Henry 6
Charles 5
Arthur 4
Edmund 4
Frederick 4
Rodger 4
Roger 4
Walter 4
Abraham 3
Enoch 3
Matthew 3
Wm. 3
Abram 2
Alfred 2
Anthony 2
Arther 2
Asa 2
Benjamin 2
Chrisr. 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Geo. 2
Herbert 2
Joshua 2
Louis 2
Saml. 2
Ambrose 1
Andrew 1
Bertie 1
Ernest 1
Ezra 1
Fred 1
Josiah 1
Lancelot 1
Levi 1
Lewis 1
Lockwood 1
Wm.Herbert 1

FAQ

Garth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Garth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 664 people were recorded with the Garth surname. That placed it at #5,418 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Garth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 658 in 2016. That gives Garth a modern rank of #8,097.

What does the Garth surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "enclosed garden" or "triangular piece of land."

What does the Garth map show?

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