JARRATT
Jarratt is a surname of English origin, first recorded in the Middle Ages and subsequently established throughout the British Isles. It is associated with the Christian population and is originally a nickname or occupational name derived from a personal term of respect.
The surname is ultimately derived from the medieval personal name Gerard, which itself is composed of the Germanic elements ger meaning "spear" and hard meaning "brave" or "strong". Together, these elements give the meaning "brave with a spear" or "strong warrior".
Following the Norman Conquest of 1066, the name was introduced into England from Norman lands, with the original forms recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Gerardus and Geraldi. The Norman introduction of the names Gerard and Gerald led to a brief period of confusion before they became recognised as separate surnames, a process reflected in the numerous modern derivatives such as Garrett, Garratt, and Jarratt.
The earliest documented spelling of the family name that survives is that of John Gerard dated 1230, found in the Pipe Rolls of Somerset during the reign of King Henry V (the Frenchman). In the 17th century, an early setteller named Samuel Jarratt secured one hundred acres of land in Virginia in 1626, a grant issued by the Crown under the authority of Charles, the future King of England.
The surname is most commonly found today in the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, and Canada, with notable concentrations in the United States state of Virginia. It has several orthographic variants, including Jarrett, Jaratt, Jarrat, and Jaret, arising from regional differences and transcription errors over time.
Notable individuals bearing the surname include Australian actor John Jarratt and British actress Lesley Jarratt, illustrating the name’s continued presence in contemporary culture.
In sum, the surname Jarratt is firmly rooted in English and Norman heritage, carries a meaning linked to courage and martial prowess, and has endured through centuries of historical documentation and geographical dispersion.
Typical given names associated with the Jarratt surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- John
- Matthew
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Alison
- Amanda
- Angela
- Christine
- Emily
- Emma
- Hannah
- Joan
- Kathleen
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Ruth
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Jarrett
- Jarrad
- Jarred
- Jarad
- Gerratt
- Gearatt
- Gerrat
- Gerrett
- Girrett
- Jarrat
- Geard
- Geordie
- Gerad
- Gerada
- Geraid
- Geraud
- Gerd
- Gerda
- Geret
- Geretto
- Gerot
- Gerrad
- Gerrade
- Gerratty
- Gerred
- Gerret
- Gerritt
- Gerrod
- Gert
- Giard
- Giardi
- Giaretta
- Gierat
- Giraud
- Giraudeau
- Giraudi
- Giraudo
- Gird
- Girda
- Giret
- Girod
- Girot
- Girotti
- Girotto
- Giroud
- Girt
- Jairath
- Jarade
- Jaradi
- Jarauta
- Jard
- Jarda
- Jared
- Jaret
- Jarett
- Jaroudi
- Jarra
- Jarret
- Jarreth
- Jarrets
- Jarrette
- Jarriett
- Jarritt
- Jarrod
- Jarrot
- Jarrott
- Jawett
- Jearrad
- Jeorrett
- Jerad
- Jerath
- Jeratt
- Jerdee
- Jerett
- Jerrad
- Jerrat
- Jerratt
- Jerreat
- Jerred
- Jerret
- Jerrett
- Jerrit
- Jerritt
- Jirde
- Jord
- Jorda
- Jordao
- Jorde
- Jordi
- Jordt
- Joret
- Jorrit
- Jort
- Jorte
- Jourd
- Jurado
- Jurd
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Jarratt in...
Braille
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Morse
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There are approximately 1,069 people named Jarratt in the UK. That makes it roughly the 7,011th most common surname in Britain. Around 16 in a million people in Britain are named Jarratt.
Surname type: From given name or forename
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Jarratt
- George Jarratt - Recipient of the Victoria Cross (1891 to 1917)
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.