History of your Surname
Get access to Garland family records.Start a free trial

Garland Family History

Garland Name Meaning

English: from Middle English gerlond ger(e)land garlond ‘metal chaplet crown coronet; wreath’ probably a nickname denoting a habitual wearer of such items or a metonymic occupational name for a maker of them. English: perhaps from the Old French personal name Gerland (ancient Germanic Garuland probably from garw- ‘war-gear; prepared(ness)’ + land ‘land’; the first element of the French name may instead be from a name beginning with gēr ‘spear’). English: topographic name from Middle English gor(e) gar(e) ‘triangular piece’ + lond ‘land’ (Old English gāra + land lond) for someone who lived ‘(at the) triangular piece of land’. Compare Garfield . Irish: adopted for the Norman name Gernon which was Gaelicized as Gearnún.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Marland, Harland, Darland, Calland, Norland, Varland, Mayland

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Garland family from?

You can see how Garland families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Garland family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Garland families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 98 Garland families living in New Hampshire. This was about 25% of all the recorded Garland's in USA. New Hampshire had the highest population of Garland families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Garland surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Garland ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Garland. 19% of Garland men worked as a Laborer and 9% of Garland women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Garland were Carpenter and Housekeeper. .

View Census Data for Garland | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    19%
  • Farmer
    17%
  • Salesman
    4%
  • Carpenter
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    9%
  • Housewife
    7%
  • Teacher
    6%
  • Housekeeper
    6%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Garland family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 197,000 census records available for the last name Garland. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Garland census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Garland

Passenger Lists

There are 20,000 immigration records available for the last name Garland. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Garland immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 32,000 military records available for the last name Garland. For the veterans among your Garland ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Garland military records

You've only scratched the surface of Garland family history

Discover More

What is the average Garland lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Garland life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Garland in 1943 was 52, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Garland

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Garland family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Garland last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial