GARLAND
Garland is a surname of English origin that was first recorded in the early twelfth century. It derives from the Middle English word garland, describing a wreath or crown made of flowers or leaves. Consequently the name could have functioned as a nickname for a maker or wearer of such wreaths or as a metonymic occupational name for someone engaged in the manufacture or sale of garlands.
In addition to the occupational explanation, the surname has a dual topographical derivation. One source is a locational name from a minor place called Garland in Chumleigh, Devonshire. The place name itself is believed to arise from the Old English pre‑7th century element gara, meaning a triangular piece of land, combined with land. An alternative topographical theory proposes that garland referred to a residence by a triangular terrain, again using the element gara together with land.
The earliest documented instance of the name is that of John de Garland(e), found in the Pipe Rolls of Hampshire dated 1190, during the reign of King Richard the Lion‑heart. Subsequent early examples include William de Garland of Essex in 1208 and Robert de Garlande of Yorkshire in 1225. By the later thirteenth century, variations such as William le Garlaunde of London in 1275 and Adam Garlaund of Essex in 1293 appear in the surviving records.
In Ireland the surname Garland has a distinct and noteworthy development. The earliest form was Gernon, introduced by Roger de Gernon, a companion of Strongbow in the Anglo‑Norman invasion of 1170. The name Gernon derives from the Old French gernon, meaning moustache, and was originally a nickname. Over time the name evolved, with spellings such as Garlan and Gearlon evident in 13th‑century Dowdall Deeds for the counties of Louth and Meath. Roger Gernon, later known as Roger Garland, served as sheriff of County Louth in 1578.
John de Garland(e) was the first recorded bearer of the surname, and the family was further distinguished by a coat of arms granted in 1620. This blazon features a gold shield with three red pales, a chief divided per pale into red and black, and figurative elements of a chaplet and a demi‑lion issuant silver. The emblem reflects the occupational ties to garland manufacturing while also summarising the family’s noble status in the early modern period.
Typical given names associated with the Garland surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
Female
- Alison
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Jacqueline
- Linda
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Carland
- Gowland
- Garand
- Garlands
- Garlan
- Carlind
- Carlinet
- Carlund
- Coorland
- Corland
- Courland
- Croland
- Crowland
- Curland
- Garande
- Garavand
- Gardland
- Garlant
- Garlind
- Garlland
- Garrand
- Garthland
- Gartland
- Gerland
- Ghirlando
- Gorlan
- Gorland
- Grauland
- Grayland
- Greeland
- Greyland
- Guerlain
- Gurland
- Kerland
- Kirland
- Koorland
- Kurland
- Garleanu
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Garland in...
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Morse
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Garland are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Chocolate Hobnob.
There are approximately 7,234 people named Garland in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,300th most common surname in Britain. Around 111 in a million people in Britain are named Garland.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Garland
- Judy Garland - American actress, singer and vaudevillian (1922 to 1969)
- Alex Garland - Novelist, screenwriter, film producer and director
- Patrick Garland - Director, writer, and actor (1935 to 2013)
- Chris Garland - Football player
- Tim Garland - Musician
- Donald Garland - Recipient of the Victoria Cross (1918 to 1940)
- David W. Garland - Sociologist
- Jack Garland - Boxer (1908 to 1985)
- Monty Garland-Wells - Cricketer (1907 to 1993)
- Dale Garland - Athlete
- Ron Garland - Football player (1931 to 1989)
- Charles Garland - Politician and chemist (1887 to 1960)
- Peter Garland - Football player
- James Garland - Australian politician (1813 to 1904)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.