GARTON

Garton is an English surname of locational origin, first identified with places bearing the same name in the East Riding of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. The name is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Gartun, indicating its longevity within the Anglo‑Saxon settlement pattern of medieval England.

The etymology of the surname is derived from the Old English personal name Gar or Gara, meaning "spear", and the element tun, meaning "enclosure" or "settlement". Consequently, Garton may be interpreted as "the settlement of Gar" or, in other accounts, as "the enclosure of Gar". An alternative origin, supported by linguistic evidence, suggests that the first element comes from the Old Norse word garthr, meaning "enclosure", combined with tun, yielding a similar meaning. The name may therefore have emerged independently in a number of localities where a trachically shaped parcel of land or a fortified enclosure was notably present.

Historical records demonstrate the surname’s persistence from the mid‑twelfth century onwards. The earliest confirmed spelling is that of Robert de Gertuna, dated 1163, in the "Transcripts of Charters relating to the Gilbertine Houses", a document produced during the reign of King Henry I. Subsequent medieval witnesses include Robert de Garton (1249) in the "Calendar of Inquisitions post mortem, Yorkshire" and William Garton (1346) recorded among witnesses in the "Feet of Fines of Essex". In later periods, variations such as Garter, Gartan, and Gartin were frequently seen, reflecting regional pronunciation and the lack of a fixed orthography.

The Clunian lineage also offers illustrative parish records. In 1571, Stephen, son of Robert Garton was christened on 23 January in St. Giles, Cripplegate, London, and in 1579 his daughter Anne was likewise christened on 24 May at the same church. Later that century, William, son of James Garton was baptised on 12 November 1590 at St. James Clerkenwell, London. Seventeenth‑century militia rolls from Barbados include an entry for John Garrton in 1679, indicating the diaspora of the family beyond the British Isles.

In contemporary times, Garton remains chiefly concentrated in its areas of origin within the United Kingdom, especially Yorkshire. The surname is not among the most frequent in England, yet it can still be found throughout the country. Beyond British shores, individuals bearing the surname appear in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other former colonies where people of British descent have settled, albeit with a lesser frequency than within its homeland.

Several orthographic variants of the surname exist, including Gartan, Gartone, Garston, Gaughton, and Ghaton. These variations are primarily the result of regional dialects and the evolving conventions of phonetic spelling throughout the centuries. The name is most accurately regarded as a toponymic surname, signifying a geographic connection rather than an occupational or patronymic one.

Typical given names associated with the Garton surname

Male

• Andrew
• Christopher
• David
• James
• John
• Michael
• Paul
• Peter
• Richard
• Robert
• Stephen

Female

• Angela
• Barbara
• Claire
• Elizabeth
• Helen
• Joan
• Joanne
• Julie
• Karen
• Margaret
• Nicola
• Sarah
• Susan

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

How to communicate the surname Garton in...

Braille

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Morse

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Semaphore

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 Garton

• Billy Garton - Football player
• Rachel Akosua Funmilola Garton - Nigerian-born British-Ghanaian singer
• Stanley Garton - Rower (1889 to 1948)
• George Garton - Cricketer

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.

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