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

Garren, 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 Garren surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Garren in America

Garren is the 9552nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Garren surname appeared 3,403 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 Garren.

We can also compare 2010 data for Garren 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 Garren

The surname Garren has its origins in Ireland, where it first emerged in the early medieval period. It is derived from the Gaelic word "garbhán," meaning "little rough one" or "little rough-headed one." This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname or a descriptive term for someone with unruly or coarse hair.

The earliest recorded instances of the Garren surname can be traced back to the 12th century in various Irish annals and records. It was particularly prevalent in the counties of Cork, Kerry, and Limerick, where it was associated with families of Gaelic-Irish descent.

In the 16th century, the Garren surname appeared in the "Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns," a collection of records documenting royal grants and administrative decisions in Ireland during the Tudor period. This indicates that individuals bearing this surname held positions of some prominence or landholdings at the time.

One of the earliest known individuals with the Garren surname was Dermot Garren, a prominent landowner in County Cork in the late 16th century. His descendants continued to hold lands in the area for several generations.

Another notable figure was Brian Garren, born in 1625 in County Kerry, who was a scholar and poet renowned for his mastery of the Irish language and literature. His works have been preserved in various manuscripts and collections.

In the 18th century, the Garren surname gained further recognition with the birth of John Garren (1720-1798), a prominent merchant and landowner in County Limerick. His son, Michael Garren (1756-1832), continued the family's legacy as a successful businessman and philanthropist.

During the 19th century, the Garren surname expanded its reach as Irish emigrants settled in various parts of the world, including North America and Australia. Notable individuals from this period include Patrick Garren (1832-1901), an influential journalist and editor in New York City, and Mary Garren (1845-1920), a pioneering educator and women's rights advocate in California.

While the Garren surname has its roots in Ireland, it has also been adopted and adapted in other regions, such as Scotland and England, where variations like Garren, Garron, and Garrin exist. However, the historical records indicate that the name's origins can be traced back to the Gaelic-speaking regions of Ireland in the early medieval period.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Garren

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

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

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

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