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

Garlit, 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 Garlit surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Garlit in America

Garlit is the 138304th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Garlit surname appeared 121 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 Garlit.

We can also compare 2010 data for Garlit 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 Garlit

The surname GARLIT has its origins in England, emerging in the late 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "gār" meaning spear, and "lītian" meaning to dye or stain, suggesting a possible occupational origin for dyers of spear shafts or other wooden objects.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Huntingdonshire Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a Robert Garlit is listed as a resident of the village of Brampton. This suggests the name was already established in that region by the late medieval period.

In the 14th century, variations such as Garlyt and Garlytte can be found in records from Somerset and Gloucestershire respectively, indicating the name's spread across southern England. The nearby village of Garland in Somerset may have contributed to the evolution of the spelling.

An entry in the Pipe Rolls of 1301 references a William Garlit from Oxfordshire, suggesting the name's presence in that county as well. This document recorded financial transactions and taxes paid to the Crown, lending further credence to the surname's longevity.

Notable individuals bearing the GARLIT surname include John Garlit (c.1420-1488), a merchant and landowner from Norfolk who served as a justice of the peace. His descendants continued to hold positions of local prominence in the region for several generations.

In the 16th century, a Thomas Garlit (c.1510-1572) gained recognition as a skilled blacksmith in the village of Ashburnham, Sussex. His craftsmanship was sought after by nobility and gentry throughout the county.

The 17th century saw the rise of Richard Garlit (1642-1712), a successful wool merchant from Gloucestershire who amassed considerable wealth through his trade with the continent. His estate and manor house near Stroud became a landmark in the area.

Moving into the 18th century, a notable figure was Elizabeth Garlit (1735-1801), a philanthropist from Oxfordshire who founded several charitable institutions for the education of underprivileged children in her region.

Finally, in the 19th century, Joseph Garlit (1812-1887) made his mark as a pioneering horticulturist from Kent, developing several new varieties of apples and pears that were widely cultivated throughout England and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Garlit

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

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

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

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