JARRETT

Jarrett is a surname of English and French origin that has long been associated with the British Isles. It is frequently found in England, and, like many English family names, it has spread to other English‑speaking countries through emigration.

The earliest and most common explanation for Jarrett is that it is a diminutive form of the personal name Gerald, which is comprised of the elements geri, meaning “spear”, and wald, meaning “rule”. The name Gerald therefore translates as “spear‑rule” and was introduced into England by Norman followers of William the Conqueror after the invasion of 1066. A closely related name, Gerard, is derived from geri and the Germanic element hard, meaning “hardy, brave or strong”. These names were recorded separately in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Gerardus and Geraldi, and both later gave rise to a number of surnames.

Another possible origin of Jarrett is the Old French word jarret, meaning “knee”. In this view the surname may have been a nickname for someone with a knee deformity or for a person who walked in a distinctive manner. Although this derivation is less widely accepted than the Germanic one, it is included in some scholarly accounts of the name's history.

The surname has appeared in many early forms, some of which are only loosely connected with the original names. The tradition of using the name as a surname dates back at least to the early twelfth century. The first recorded spelling of the family name is that of John Gerard, dated 1230 in the Pipe Rolls of Somerset during the reign of Henry the Eleventh. Subsequent church registers give further evidence, such as the marriage of Michael and Sarah Jarrett on 2 February 1588 at Worth, Surrey, and the wedding of Sarah Yarlett to William Burke at St James Church, Dukes Place, Westminster, on 20 September 1680.

Variations of the surname include Garrett, Jarratt, Garratt, Garred, Yarlett, Yerlott, Garrod, Jerrard, and Jerrold. These variants reflect the common practice of modifying names according to regional pronunciation and spelling conventions, and they demonstrate the wide influence of the original Germanic elements.

In modern times Jarrett remains a relatively common surname within English-speaking countries. It is especially prevalent in England, where it is often found in the south‑eastern counties, but it also appears in various forms across the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, reflecting patterns of migration from Britain during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Typical given names associated with the Jarrett surname

Male

• Andrew
• Anthony
• Christopher
• David
• John
• Matthew
• Michael
• Paul
• Peter
• Richard
• Robert

Female

• Christine
• Diane
• Elizabeth
• Emma
• Hyacinth
• Margaret
• Mary
• Michelle
• Nicola
• Pamela
• Patricia
• 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 Jarrett in...

Braille

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Morse

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Semaphore

Did you know?

According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Jarrett are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Chocolate malted milk biscuit.

Surname type: Diminutive

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Famous people named Jarrett

• Nathan Stewart-Jarrett - Actor
• Tayo Jarrett - Rapper, actor and producer
• Tony Jarrett - Athlete
• Jason Jarrett - Football player
• Keith Jarrett - Welsh rugby union and rugby league football player
• Andrew Jarrett - Tennis player
• Derek Jarrett - Writer (1928 to 2004)
• Graham Jarrett - Cricketer (1937 to 2004)
• David Jarrett - Cricketer
• Martyn Jarrett - Bishop of Beverley; Bishop of Burnley

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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