GARFIELD - Surname Meaning and Family History

Garfield is a surname thought to have originated as a habitational name for someone from a lost or unidentified place, from the Old English gar, meaning "triangular land," and feld, meaning "open country or field."

Other possible origins of the Garfield name include the Saxon garwian, meaning "to prepare," or the German and Dutch gar, meaning "dressed, prepared" or a "field or place furnished for an army."

Surname Origin: English

Alternate Surname Spellings: GARFELD, GARFEELD

Where Is the Garfield Surname Most Common?

According to WorldNames PublicProfiler, Garfield is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, with a large number of individuals with the surname living in the West Midlands. In the United States, the Garfield surname is most common in Utah, followed by Vermont, New Hampshire, Montana, Massachusetts and New Mexico.

Forebears identify the Garfield last name in England as being most common in Worcestershire (551st most common last name), followed by Huntingdonshire, Northamptonshire, and Warwickshire. In the United States, Garfield is most common in Utah, Montana, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Maine. Interestingly, the Garfield surname is also fairly common in Jamaica and Taiwan.

Famous People with the GARFIELD Surname

• James A. Garfield - 20th president of the United States
• Andrew Garfield - American actor
• Henry Garfield - birth name of American artist and musician Henry Rollins
• Jason Garfield - juggler; founder of the World Juggling Federation
• Richard Garfield - creator of the game Magic: The Gathering
• Eugene Garfield - American scientist

Genealogy Resources for the Surname GARFIELD

Meanings of Common English Surnames
Uncover the meaning of your English last name with this free guide to the meanings and origins of common English surnames.

Garfield Family Crest - It's Not What You Think
Contrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a Garfield family crest or coat of arms for the Garfield surname. Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male-line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted.

GARFIELD Family Genealogy Forum
This free message board is focused on descendants of Garfield ancestors around the world. Search or browse the archives to find messages related to your Garfield ancestry, or join the group to post your own Garfield query.

FamilySearch - GARFIELD Genealogy
Explore over 100,000 results from digitized historical records and lineage-linked family trees related to the Garfield surname on this free website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

GARFIELD Surname Mailing List
A free mailing list is available for researchers of the Garfield surname and its variations includes subscription details and a searchable archive of past messages.

GeneaNet - Garfield Records
GeneaNet includes archival records, family trees, and other resources for individuals with the Garfield surname, with a concentration on records and families from France and other European countries.

The Garfield Genealogy and Family Tree Page
Browse genealogy records and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the Garfield surname from the website of Genealogy Today.

Ancestry of James Garfield, 20th U.S. President
Explore the ancestry of President Garfield, including his ancestors, descendants, and famous kin.

_{References: Surname Meanings & Origins}

_{Cottle, Basil. Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967.}

_{Dorward, David. Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998.}

_{Fucilla, Joseph. Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003.}

_{Hanks, Patrick, and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989.}

_{Hanks, Patrick. Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003.}

_{Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997.}

_{Smith, Elsdon C. American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.}