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

Garn, 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 Garn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Garn in America

Garn is the 21360th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Garn surname appeared 1,226 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 Garn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Garn 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 Garn

The surname GARN has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "garan," meaning "to prepare or make ready," suggesting that the name may have been associated with individuals involved in agricultural or manufacturing activities.

One of the earliest documented references to the GARN surname can be found in the Lancashire Pipe Rolls of 1292, where a Richard del Garne is mentioned. This record provides evidence of the name's presence in the northern regions of England during the medieval period.

In the 16th century, the GARN surname appeared in various spellings, such as Garne, Garn, and Garner, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. One notable individual from this era was Richard Garn, born in 1545 in Gloucestershire, who was a renowned scholar and author of several theological works.

The Domesday Book, the comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the GARN surname. However, it does mention several place names that may have influenced the development of the surname, such as Garsington in Oxfordshire and Garton in Yorkshire.

In the 17th century, the GARN surname gained prominence with the rise of notable figures like John Garn (1632-1701), a successful merchant and landowner from Worcestershire. Around the same time, the name was also found in various parish records across England, indicating its widespread distribution.

Another notable individual with the GARN surname was Elizabeth Garn (1720-1793), a prominent philanthropist and benefactor from Warwickshire, who left a substantial inheritance to support educational and charitable endeavors in her local community.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the GARN surname continued to be well-represented in various sectors, including academia, politics, and the arts. One notable figure was Sir William Garn (1778-1845), a renowned architect and civil engineer who contributed to several major infrastructure projects in London.

Other individuals of note include Robert Garn (1853-1921), a prominent industrialist and founder of the Garn Manufacturing Company in Birmingham, and Emily Garn (1875-1958), a celebrated novelist and playwright whose works explored themes of social justice and women's rights.

As the GARN surname spread across different regions of England and beyond, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Garne, Garner, and Garnie, reflecting the diverse influences of local dialects and scribal conventions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Garn

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

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

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

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