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

Garland, 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 Garland surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Garland in America

Garland is the 1309th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Garland surname appeared 26,779 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 9 people would have the surname Garland.

We can also compare 2010 data for Garland 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 Garland

The surname Garland has its origins in the Old French language and is derived from the word "garlande", meaning a wreath or garland of flowers or leaves. It was initially an occupational name given to makers or sellers of such floral garlands.

The name first appeared in England following the Norman Conquest of 1066, when many French and Norman nobles and commoners settled in the country. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Gerlant".

In the 12th century, the name was recorded as "Gerlaund" and "Garlond" in various historical documents. These early spellings highlight the name's French origins and its subsequent evolution in England.

During the 13th century, the surname Garland began to spread across England, with notable bearers including William Garland, who was recorded in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1262.

The 14th century saw the emergence of several prominent individuals bearing the surname Garland. One such figure was John Garland, a renowned philosopher and theologian who lived from around 1270 to 1320. Another notable bearer was Thomas Garland, who served as the Bishop of Lincoln from 1349 to 1363.

In the 15th century, the surname Garland was well-established in various parts of England, with several place names derived from the surname, such as Garland's Green in Hertfordshire and Garland's Cross in Oxfordshire.

One of the most famous bearers of the surname Garland was Sir Thomas Garland, a renowned English soldier and landowner who lived from around 1490 to 1550. He served under King Henry VIII and played a significant role in the suppression of the Pilgrimage of Grace rebellion in 1536.

Another notable figure was John Garland, an English Baptist minister and writer who lived from 1608 to 1700. He was a prominent figure during the English Civil War and authored several religious works.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Garland has been carried by many other individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields, including literature, arts, and sciences.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Garland

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

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 Garland 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 Garland 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 Garland was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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