Contents [hide]

Garry History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Sources

Garry History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
England

Etymology of Garry

What does the name Garry mean?

The name Garry has changed considerably in the time that has passed since its genesis. It originally appeared in Gaelic as Mag Fhearadhaigh, derived from the word "fearadhach," possibly meaning "manly." 1

Early Origins of the Garry family

The surname Garry was first found in Connacht (Irish: Connachta, (land of the) descendants of Conn), where they held a family seat from ancient times. 2

Over in Devon, England, "The ' Domesday ' manor of Kari, in the parish of St. Giles-in-the-Heath, was the first recorded seat of the Gary family ; and one branch continued to reside there so late as the reign of Elizabeth. As early, however, as the reign of Richard II. it ceased to be their principal home. Sir William Gary then settled at Clovelly, and his brother Sir John, Chief Baron of the Exchequer, acquired, with many other manors, that of Cockington, only to lose them all by deciding for Richard against the Commissioners. His attainder was reversed in favour of his son Robert, who gained the favour of Henry V. by vanquishing an Aragonese knight in Smithfield. Two generations later the family were again in difficulty. Sir William Gary, grandson of Robert, was an ardent Lancastrian ; and one of those who, after the fatal battle of Tewkesbury, took refuge in the Abbey Church. Two days later the refugees were treacherously beheaded. The usual forfeiture followed; but Sir William's eldest son, Robert, obtained restoration from Henry VII. He was the ancestor of the present stock of Devonshire Carys. From his half-brother spring the ennobled Carys, represented by Lord Falkland." 3

Early History of the Garry family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Garry research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1585, 1667 and 1668 are included under the topic Early Garry History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Garry Spelling Variations

Names written in official documents were generally spelt as they sounded, leading to the problem of one name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion in records of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname Garry that are preserved in documents of the family history are Garry, Garrihy, Hare, O'Hare, O'Heihir, MacGarry and many more.

Early Notables of the Garry family

Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Garry Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Garry Ranking

In the United States, the name Garry is the 8,140^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4 However, in France, the name Garry is ranked the 5,794^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 5

Garry migration to the United States +

The English-ruled Ireland of the late 18th and 19th centuries featured a rapidly increasing population and an agricultural-based economy. This combination proved to be disastrous in the 1840s after a couple of failed potato harvests. Thousands died of disease and starvation, and thousands more left the country, often bound for North America. Those that survived the journey to North America were put to work building the bridges, canals, roadways, and railways needed for the development of an industrial society. Those Irish, although often despised by those already established in North American cities and towns, played an instrumental role in making Canada and the United States the powerful and wealthy nations that they are today. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists has shown many immigrants bearing the name Garry:

Garry Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Henry Garry who settled in Virginia in 1635
Sarah Garry, who landed in Maryland in 1668 6

Garry Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Claud Garry, who settled with his wife in Virginia in 1714
Claude Garry, who landed in Virginia in 1714 6

Garry Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

B Garry, who landed in Newport, Rhode Island in 1811 6
Bartholomew Garry, who arrived in Newport, Rhode Island in 1811 6
James Garry, who arrived in New York, NY in 1812 6
William Garry, aged 24, who arrived in America in 1812 6
Patrick Garry, who landed in Arkansas in 1845 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Garry migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Garry Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Miss. Francis Garry, aged 3 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Maria Sams" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 7
Mr. Patrick Garry, aged 6 months who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Maria Somes" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 7
Mr. David Garry, aged 30 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Scotland" departing 13th April 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 8th June 1847 but he died on board 8
Mr. David Garry, aged 27 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Scotland" departing 13th April 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 8th June 1847 but he died on board 8
Mr. John Garry, aged 25 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Sir Henry Pottinger" departing 29th May 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 7th August 1847 but he died on board 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Garry migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Garry Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Esther Garry, (b. 1821), aged 30, Irish house maid who was convicted in County Mayo, Ireland for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Blackfriar" on 24th January 1851, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), she died in 1888 9
Miss Bridget Garry, (Biddy), (b. 1850), aged 1, Irish settler travelling with Esther Garry convict, transported aboard the "Blackfriar" on 24th January 1851, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), she died in 1852 9
Michael Garry, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Rodney" 10
Mary Garry, aged 24, a laundry maid, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Oriental,"
Edward Garry, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Agincourt"

Garry migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Garry Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Alexander Garry, Scottish settler from Maryhill travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Strathfieldsaye" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 29th April 1858 11
Mrs. Garry, Scottish settler from Maryhill travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Strathfieldsaye" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 29th April 1858 11
Mr. Garry, Jr., Scottish settler from Maryhill travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Strathfieldsaye" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 29th April 1858 11
Miss Garry, Scottish settler from Maryhill travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Strathfieldsaye" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 29th April 1858 11
John Garry, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of Beauty" in 1863

Contemporary Notables of the name Garry (post 1700) +

Spokane Garry (1811-1892), Native American leader of the Middle Spokane tribe who acted as a liaison between white settlers and American Indian tribes in the area which is now eastern Washington state
Benjamin Earl "Ben" Garry (1956-2006), American football running back who played two seasons with the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League (1979-1980)
Vivien Garry (d. 2008), American jazz bassist who led the Vivien Garry Quintet and later the led the Vivien Garry Trio
James Thomas "Jim" Garry (1869-1917), American Major League Basebal pitcher for the 1893 Boston Beaneaters
Colleen M. Garry (b. 1962), American politician, Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1995-)
Charles R. Garry (1909-1991), American civil rights attorney who represented a number of high-profile clients in political cases during the 1960s and 1970s, including Huey P. Newton during his 1968 capital murder trial and the Peoples Temple during the 1978 Jonestown tragedy
Ted Garry (b. 1885), Scottish footballer and football manager, active from 1905 to 1917
Flora Garry (1900-2000), Scottish poet who mostly wrote in the Scots dialect of Aberdeenshire
Ryan Mayne Felix Garry (b. 1983), English former professional footballer who played as a defender from 2001 to 2011; manager of the England U18 Team (2021-)
Robert Campbell Garry (1900-1993), British physician and Professor of Medicine at both St Andrews University and Glasgow University.

Historic Events for the Garry family +

HMS Hood

Mr. Neville W H Garry (b. 1922), English Ordinary Telegraphist serving for the Royal Navy from Smethwick, Staffordshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 12

RMS Lusitania

Dr. Joseph Garry, Irish Assistant Surgeon from Kildysart, Clare, Ireland, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 13
Mr. Christopher Garry, American 2nd Class passenger from Cleveland, Ohio, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 14

The Garry Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fear garbh ar mait
Motto Translation: Here is a good rough man.

Sources +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 30)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 77)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/blackfriar
South Australian Register Wednesday 21st February 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Rodney 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/rodney1855.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 10) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/