Gard Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Gard Origin:

England

Origin of Gard:

This unique name is a professional surname for a watcher or warden. It was acquired from the pre 9th century ancient French word “Garde”, which means “to defend or to watch,” it entered into England after the Norman Invasion of 1066. It is used in combination with the Ancient English pre 7th century word “ward” with an identical meaning. Both words were acquired from a Germanic word “weard”. In the present day, this surname holds three main spellings pattern, Guard, Gard, and Geard. Previous examples of the surname recordings consist of John le Gard in the 1275 rolls of the city of Worcester, and at the same time William la Garde is listed in the 1309 revolution of Bedord. The following name recordings taken from the London local records consists of such examples as Agnis Gart in 1608, Edmund Geyard in 1622, Anne Gard in 1642, and Hannah Guerd in 1787. Examples collected from the parish lists consist of John Guard who married Mary Morgan at St Dunstans in the East, Stepney, in May 1642, at the same time the naming lists George Geard, son of John and Rebecca Geard, at St. Mary Woolnoth, London, in April 1684.

Variations:

More common variations are: Guard, Goard, Garde, Gaurd, Gared, Garod, Garad, Gardy, Garud, Gardi.

Ireland:

The surname Gard was found in the Division of Cork (Irish: Corcaigh) the old Kingdom of Deis Muin (Desmond), situated on the southwest banks of Ireland in the division of Munster, where they held a family seat from old times, before the Anglo-Norman Invasion of Ireland by Strongbow in 1172 A.D.

England:

The very first recorded spelling of the family was shown to be that of Alan de Richard le Gard, dated 1275, in the “Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire”. It was during the time of King Edward I who was known to be the “Hammer of the Scots,” 1272 – 1307. The origin of surnames during this period became a necessity with the introduction of personal taxation. It came to be known as Poll Tax in England. Surnames all over the country began to develop, with unique and shocking spelling varieties of the original one.

United States of America:

Individuals with the surname Gard settled in the United States in three different centuries respectively in the 17th, 18th, and 19th. Some of the people with the name Gard who settled in the United States in the 17th century included Margaret Gard at the age of 24, who landed in Virginia in 1635.

Some of the people with the surname Gard who settled in the United States in the 18th century included Robert Gard, who landed in Virginia in 1700.

Some of the people with the surname Gard who settled in the United States in the 19th century included Juan Gard at the age of 57 and Mauel G Gard at the age of 8 both arrived in New Orleans, La in 1829. Peter Gard, who arrived in Indiana in 1840. Q J Gard, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 and Miss Gard arrived in America in 1856.

Australia:

Some of the people with the surname Gard who settled in Australia in the 19th century included Thomas Bennett Gard who was an English prisoner from Wiltshire aboard the “Arab” in July 1822, arriving in Van Diemen’s Land, Australia. William Gard and Elizabeth Gard both arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship “Cleveland” in the same year in 1839. Thomas Gard arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship “Cressy” in 1847. Richard Gard, at the age of 18 arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship “Lord Raglan.”

New Zealand:

Some of the people with the surname Gard who settled in New Zealand in the 19th century included Frederic Gard at the age of 24, was a farm laborer, arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “Ocean Mail” in 1875. William George Gard, at the age of 25 and Sarah A. Gard, at the age of 21, both arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Rodney” in the same year in 1875.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Gard: United States 5,594; England 817; France 1,323; Sweden 718; Germany 471; India 326; Tanzania 304; Australia 804; Canada 442; South Africa 329.

Notable People:

Warren Gard (1873 – 1929), was an American lawyer and lawmaker.

Toby Gard (born 1972), English computer game character designer and consultant.

John Gard (born 1963), American politician.

Alex Gard (1900 – 1948), Russian cartoonist.

Robert Gard, American military strategist.

Mike Gard (born 1952), Australian politician.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

Notes: (co. Kent). Blazon: Azure on a chevron argent three birds vert membered gules on a chief or, three griffins segreant sable. Crest—A tower argent between two laurel branches vert.