Find out how popular the last name Garde is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Garde.

Garde, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Garde surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Garde in America

Garde is the 30863rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Garde surname appeared 754 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Garde.

We can also compare 2010 data for Garde to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Garde

The surname Garde is of French origin, traced back to the medieval period in France. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "garde," meaning "guard" or "watchman." This surname was likely adopted by individuals who held occupations related to guarding or protecting, such as soldiers, watchmen, or sentries.

In its earliest form, the surname was often spelled as "Guarde" or "Warde," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and regional dialects across different parts of France. The name can be found in historical records and documents dating back to the 13th century, although its precise origins remain uncertain.

One notable early reference to the surname Garde can be found in the "Livre des Bourgeois de Reims" (Book of the Burghers of Reims), a medieval register of citizens in the city of Reims, France. This document, compiled in the 14th century, includes several mentions of individuals bearing the surname Garde.

Among the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Garde was Jean Garde, a French military officer who served under King Charles VI in the late 14th century. Another early bearer of the name was Guillaume Garde, a merchant and landowner from the city of Toulouse, who lived in the 15th century.

In the 16th century, the surname Garde gained prominence through the works of the French poet and writer, Maurice Scève (1501-1564), who was known for his poetic works and his association with the literary circle of Lyon.

As the surname spread across Europe, it underwent various transformations and adaptations. In England, for instance, the name evolved into the variants "Guard" and "Warden," reflecting its connection to the concept of guarding or protecting.

Over the centuries, several notable figures have borne the surname Garde, including:

1. Jean-Antoine Garde (1670-1740), a French architect and designer known for his work on the Palace of Versailles.
2. François-Xavier Garde (1758-1826), a French military officer who served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.
3. Antoine-Léon Garde (1804-1877), a French engraver and painter known for his etchings and lithographs.
4. Auguste Garde (1880-1964), a French politician and former Minister of Education.
5. Henri Garde (1910-1997), a French writer and journalist who covered World War II and wrote several novels and non-fiction works.

While the surname Garde has its roots in France, it has since dispersed across various regions and countries, with bearers of the name contributing to various fields, including art, literature, politics, and military endeavors.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Garde

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Garde.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Garde was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Garde has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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