Find out how popular the first name Garey has been for the last 40 years (from 1974 to 2013) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Garey by gender

Based on the last 40 years of data, Garey is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2013, there were 6 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Garey.

The history of the first name Garey

The name Garey traces its origins to the Old English and Anglo-Saxon languages, where it was derived from the word "gara," meaning "spear." It first emerged in the early medieval period, around the 5th to 7th centuries AD, when Anglo-Saxon communities were established in what is now England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Garey appears in the Domesday Book, a vast survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. Several individuals with variations of the name, such as Gari and Garic, are listed as landholders and tenants throughout the document.

In the 12th century, the name Garey gained prominence through the life of Garey of St. Albans, a monk and historian who lived from around 1095 to 1170. His chronicle, known as the "Gesta Abbatum Monasterii Sancti Albani," provides a valuable historical account of the period and is considered one of the most important sources for the study of medieval England.

During the Middle Ages, the name Garey was particularly popular among the nobility and landed gentry of England. One notable bearer of the name was Garey de Montfort, a 13th-century English nobleman who played a significant role in the Barons' War against King Henry III. He was born around 1215 and died in 1265.

In the Renaissance period, the name Garey gained literary significance through the works of Geoffrey Chaucer. In his famous "Canterbury Tales," Chaucer includes a character named Garey the Reeve, a steward or overseer of lands, who represents the complex social dynamics of the time.

Another prominent figure in history with the name Garey was Garey Vere, an English soldier and courtier who lived from 1565 to 1631. He served under Queen Elizabeth I and was knighted for his military service during the Anglo-Spanish War.

Throughout the centuries, the name Garey has remained in use, though with varying popularity. Other notable individuals with this name include Garey Davies, a Welsh poet and writer of the 18th century, and Garey Morse, an American businessman and philanthropist of the 19th century.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Garey was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Garey, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!