Garnica
A Spanish surname likely linked to the place-name Guernica/Gernika in the Basque Country.
The #5,820 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 51,969 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Garnica is generally treated as a Spanish surname of place-name origin, probably related to Guernica (Basque Gernika), the well-known town in Biscay. The form in older sources can vary because Spanish and Basque spellings were often adapted differently in historical records. The literal sense is not certain from the excerpt alone, but the surname most likely began as a habitational name for someone from that locality.
History
The surname appears in historical Spanish surname lists alongside forms such as Guernica, suggesting that Garnica was understood as a variant or related spelling in circulation by the 19th century. It is found today in Spain and in Spanish-speaking communities abroad, including the Americas. Modern bearers may descend from multiple unrelated branches that adopted or standardized the surname independently.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Guernica is internationally famous for Picasso’s 1937 painting, which helped make the name of the Basque town widely recognized beyond Spain.
From the historical record
“dellana (Grandallana), Grijalva, Grilo, Guardami- no, Guardia, Giiardiola, Gudar (Gudal), Guelben- zu, Guemes, Guernica, (Garnica,) Guevara, Gui- merá, Guimil, Guinea, Gurrea, Haro, Helguero, Henares, Heredia, Herencliun, Hermida, Hermosa, Hermosilla, Herran, Herrera, Herreros, Herrezue- lo, Hevia, Hierro, Higon…”
— Ensayo histórico etimológico filológico sobre los apellidos castellanos