Find out how popular the last name Garms is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Garms.
An occupational surname derived from the Old German word "ger" meaning spear or javelin.
Garms, 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 Garms surname is from the 2010 census data.
Garms is the 36900th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Garms surname appeared 605 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 Garms.
We can also compare 2010 data for Garms 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.
2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
---|---|---|---|
Rank | 36900 | 36630 | 0.73% |
Count | 605 | 576 | 4.91% |
Proportion per 100k | 0.21 | 0.21 | 0.00% |
The surname GARMS is believed to have originated in Germany, with roots dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old German word "garm," meaning "a loud noise or clamor." This suggests that the name may have originally been a descriptive nickname for someone who was known for being particularly noisy or boisterous.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the GARMS name can be found in the town records of Wittenberg, dating back to the year 1587. These records mention a certain Hans Garms, a local farmer and landowner. It is likely that the name had already been in use in the region for some time prior to this written record.
In the 17th century, the GARMS name appeared in several historical documents from the region of Saxony, which was then part of the Holy Roman Empire. One notable example is the baptismal record of Johann Garms, born in 1643 in the town of Meissen. This document provides evidence of the name's continued presence and use in the area during this period.
As the years progressed, the GARMS name spread to other parts of what is now modern-day Germany. By the 18th century, it had become established in regions such as Bavaria and Hesse. One notable figure from this time was Friedrich Garms, a respected scholar and theologian who was born in 1719 in the city of Kassel.
In the 19th century, the GARMS name continued to be found throughout Germany, with several individuals achieving notable status. One such person was Wilhelm Garms, a prominent painter and artist who was born in 1837 in Berlin. His works are still celebrated and displayed in various museums and galleries across Europe.
Another significant figure from this era was Luise Garms, a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. Born in 1848 in the town of Göttingen, she played a crucial role in establishing several schools and educational institutions for young women, helping to pave the way for greater gender equality in education.
As the 20th century dawned, the GARMS name continued to be carried by individuals who made their mark in various fields. One such person was Hans Garms, a renowned architect born in 1901 in Hamburg. His innovative designs and contributions to the field of modern architecture are still studied and admired today.
While this is not an exhaustive history, it provides a glimpse into the rich heritage and diverse individuals who have borne the surname GARMS throughout the centuries. From its origins as a descriptive nickname in 16th-century Germany to its spread across various regions and the notable figures who have carried the name, the GARMS surname has left an indelible mark on the cultural and historical tapestry of Germany and beyond.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Garms.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Garms was:
Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
---|---|---|
Non-Hispanic White Only | 90.91% | 550 |
Non-Hispanic Black Only | 1.32% | 8 |
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | (S)% | (S) |
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S) |
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | 2.81% | 17 |
Hispanic Origin | 3.80% | 23 |
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 Garms has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
---|---|---|---|
White | 90.91% | 93.06% | -2.34% |
Black | 1.32% | 1.56% | -16.67% |
Asian and Pacific Islander | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
Two or More Races | 2.81% | 1.91% | 38.14% |
Hispanic | 3.80% | 3.13% | 19.34% |
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 Garms was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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<a href="http://namecensus.com/last-names/garms-surname-popularity/">Garms last name popularity, history, and meaning</a>
"Garms last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 16, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/garms-surname-popularity/.
"Garms last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/garms-surname-popularity/. Accessed 16 July, 2025
Garms last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/garms-surname-popularity/.
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