UK surname
An occupational surname of German origin referring to a person who tans animal hides into leather.
In the 1881 census there were 8 people recorded with the Garver surname, ranking it #32,581 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #32,581 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Aldershot and Hull Holy Trinity. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Garver is 107 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 12.5%.
1881 census count
8
Ranked #32,581
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1891
107 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Garver surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Garver surname density by area, 1891 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 | 28 | #28,274 |
| 1861 | historical | 84 | #23,058 |
| 1881 | historical | 8 | #32,581 |
| 1891 | historical | 107 | #22,967 |
| 1901 | historical | 47 | #28,929 |
| 1911 | historical | 36 | #29,370 |
| 1997 | modern | 3 | #38,317 |
| 1998 | modern | 5 | #37,861 |
| 1999 | modern | 5 | #37,872 |
| 2000 | modern | 5 | #37,823 |
| 2001 | modern | 4 | #37,862 |
| 2002 | modern | 4 | #37,921 |
| 2003 | modern | 4 | #37,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 8 | #37,346 |
| 2005 | modern | 10 | #37,180 |
| 2006 | modern | 13 | #36,902 |
| 2007 | modern | 11 | #37,217 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 11 | #37,336 |
| 2010 | modern | 8 | #37,769 |
| 2011 | modern | 8 | #37,737 |
| 2012 | modern | 5 | #38,167 |
| 2013 | modern | 7 | #37,909 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 5 | #38,221 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Aldershot, Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes and Hollington. 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 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Aldershot | Surrey |
| 3 | Hull Holy Trinity | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Hollington | Sussex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Garver 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 Garver, 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 Garver surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Garver 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, Garver 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 Garver is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Garver, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Garver is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "garwer," which means "tanner" or "leather worker." It is an occupational surname that emerged during the medieval period, typically referring to individuals who were involved in the trade of tanning and processing animal hides into leather.
This surname likely originated in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, particularly in areas where the tanning industry was prevalent. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 14th and 15th centuries in various German-language records and documents.
One of the earliest known references to the name Garver can be found in the Bavarian town records of Schärding, dated around 1420. Here, a certain Hanns Garver is mentioned as a resident and likely a tanner by profession.
In the 16th century, the surname Garver appeared in the records of the city of Nuremberg, which was a prominent center for the leather-working trade during that period. Notable individuals bearing this surname include Hans Garver, a master tanner who lived in Nuremberg in the mid-1500s.
As the name spread across various German-speaking regions, it underwent slight variations in spelling, such as Garber, Gerber, or Gärber, all of which can be traced back to the same occupational origin.
One of the earliest known instances of the surname Garver in English-speaking regions can be found in the records of the Pennsylvania Dutch settlers in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. These German immigrants brought the name with them to the American colonies, where it continued to be used by their descendants.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Garver. One example is Johann Garver, a German-born artist and engraver who lived in the late 16th century and is known for his intricate woodcut prints and illustrations.
Another prominent figure was Friedrich Garver, a German theologian and philosopher who lived from 1741 to 1813 and made significant contributions to the field of Protestant theology.
In the 19th century, Charles Garver (1833-1905) was an American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.
The name Garver has also been associated with various place names derived from the occupation of tanning, such as Gerberviertel (Tanners' Quarter) in cities like Vienna and Munich, where tanneries and leather-working workshops were historically concentrated.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Garver 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. Surrey leads with 3 Garvers recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.04x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 3 | 9.04x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 15.87x |
| Fife | 1 | 24.81x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 1.24x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 1.47x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Croydon in Surrey leads with 3 Garvers recorded in 1881 and an index of 163.04x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Croydon | 3 | 163.04x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 20.37x |
| New Deer | 1 | 909.09x |
| Pittenweem | 1 | 2000.00x |
| St Luke London | 1 | 91.74x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Garver 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 Garver surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| G. | 2 |
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 Garver households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Labourer | 2 |
| Cook Dom Serv | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 8 people were recorded with the Garver surname. That placed it at #32,581 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Garver a modern rank of #37,967.
An occupational surname of German origin referring to a person who tans animal hides into leather.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Garver 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.