Show ContentsGarza History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Garza

What does the name Garza mean?

The mountainous borders of Spain contain the origins of the prestigious surname Garza. The earliest forms of hereditary surnames in Spain were the patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father's given name, and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the mother's given name. Spanish patronymic names emerged as early as the mid-9th century and the most common patronymic suffix is "ez." The patronyms were derived from a variety of given names that were of many different origins.

Early Origins of the Garza family

The surname Garza was first found in Galicia, an important Christian kingdom of medieval Spain.

Early History of the Garza family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Garza research. Another 335 words (24 lines of text) covering the years 1037, 1139 and 1162 are included under the topic Early Garza History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Garza Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Garza, de Garza, de la Garza, Garzo, Garzón and many more.

Early Notables of the Garza family

More information is included under the topic Early Garza Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Garza Ranking

In the United States, the name Garza is the 224th most popular surname with an estimated 116,889 people with that name. 1


Garza migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Garza Settlers in United States in the 16th Century
  • Juan de la Garza, who sailed to America in 1514
  • Alonso Garza, who sailed to New Spain in 1537
Garza Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Jose Garza, who landed in Texas in 1850 2
  • Camilo Garza, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1868 2
  • Marceline Garza, aged 52, who landed in America, in 1895
  • Oscar Garza, aged 19, who landed in America, in 1895
  • Zusanna Garza, aged 32, who settled in America, in 1895
Garza Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Sedrenio Garza, who arrived in Texas in 1911 2
  • Daniel Garza, aged 21, who immigrated to the United States from Mexico City, Mexico, in 1912
  • Macedonio Garza, aged 30, who immigrated to America from Mexico City, Mexico, in 1913
  • Cifrano Garza, aged 27, who landed in America from Monterey, Mexico, in 1913
  • Miguel Garza, aged 32, who immigrated to the United States from Paris, France, in 1915
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Garza (post 1700) +

  • Samuel Mayorga Garza Jr. (b. 1965), American former NFL and CFL professional quarterback
  • Nicole Garza (b. 1982), American actress
  • Alana de la Garza (b. 1976), American actress, best known for her role on Law and Order
  • Roberto Garza (b. 1979), American NFL football guard
  • Loreto Garza (b. 1962), American three-time Golden Glove boxer
  • Antonio Oscar "Tony" Garza Jr. (b. 1959), American lawyer and former county judge
  • Matthew Scott "Matt" Garza (b. 1983), American Major League Baseball pitcher
  • Captian Blas María de la Garza Falcón (1712-1767), Spanish settler of Tamaulipas and South Texas
  • Rodrigo Garza (b. 1979), Spanish Olympic field hockey player
  • Federico Cantú Garza (1907-1989), Mexican painter, engraver and sculptor
  • ... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


Suggested Readings for the name Garza +

  • Origin of the Surnames Garza and Trevino in Nuevo Leon by Tomas Mendirichaga Cueva.
  • Stolen Heritage: A Mexican-American's Rediscovery of His Family's Lost Land Grant by Abel G. Rubio.

  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)


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