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

Garlock, 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 Garlock surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Garlock in America

Garlock is the 11395th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Garlock surname appeared 2,767 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Garlock.

We can also compare 2010 data for Garlock 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 Garlock

The surname Garlock has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "gara" meaning "triangular piece of land" and "loc" meaning "enclosure," suggesting that the name was initially given to someone who resided in a triangular-shaped enclosure or plot of land.

The earliest recorded instances of the Garlock surname can be traced back to the 13th century, with various spellings such as Garlok, Garlok, and Garloke appearing in historical records. One notable reference is found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, which mentions a Robert Garlok.

In the 14th century, the name Garlock appeared in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a John Garlok was mentioned in 1317. This indicates that the name had spread beyond its initial region of origin.

The Garlock surname may also be associated with specific place names, such as the village of Garlock in Derbyshire, England. This village was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 under the name "Gareloc," further reinforcing the connection between the surname and its geographical roots.

One notable figure bearing the Garlock surname was John Garlock (c. 1590-1670), an English Puritan who emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 17th century. He was among the early settlers of Hampton, New Hampshire, and played a significant role in the development of the colony.

Another notable individual was William Garlock (1778-1851), an American pioneer and frontiersman who played a crucial role in the exploration and settlement of the American West. He was a renowned trapper, guide, and interpreter who worked with various expeditions, including those led by William Henry Ashley and Jedediah Smith.

In the realm of literature, Mary Garlock (1914-2010) was an American novelist and short story writer known for her works depicting life in the rural Midwest. Her novel "The Edge of Violence" published in 1959, received critical acclaim and brought her national recognition.

Silas Garlock (1833-1911) was a prominent American entrepreneur and inventor who founded the Garlock Packing Company in 1887. The company specialized in the manufacture of industrial gaskets and sealing products, and Garlock's innovations played a significant role in the development of modern sealing technology.

Lastly, James Garlock (1925-2018) was an American aerospace engineer who made significant contributions to the design and development of spacecraft and launch vehicles. He worked for NASA and played a crucial role in the Apollo program, contributing to the successful landing of the first humans on the Moon.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Garlock

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

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

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

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