Garnett
A name that likely began as a nickname from the gem garnet, or possibly as a variant of an older Germanic personal name.
The #3,445 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 29,773 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The surname Garnett is usually treated as a variant related to the word for the red gemstone garnet. That makes it a nickname surname, probably first applied to someone associated with the stone’s color, trade, or appearance. Some 19th-century writers also linked it to older Germanic personal-name forms, so the exact origin is not entirely certain.
History
The name appears in English records in forms such as Garnet and Garnett, and it later became established as a hereditary surname. Historical surname writers debated whether it came from the gemstone term or from an older personal name. In modern use, Garnett is best known as an English-language surname and has also spread widely to North America.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Some older surname books grouped Garnett with names inspired by jewels and precious stones.
From the historical record
“Illustrations. The two parts in one volume. Super-royal Svo, cloth, gilt top, os. nett. GARNETT, R., LL.D. Richmond on Thames. Illustrated. Super-royal Svo, sewed, 35. 6d. nett 6 Seeley &P Co Limited GIBERNE, AGNES. Beside the Waters of Comfort. Crown 8vo, 35. 6d.”
— Family Names and their StoryNotable people named Garnett
- Kevin Garnett (b. 1976)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.