Garcia History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Garcia

What does the name Garcia mean?

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. Garcia is thought to be a patronymic name formed from a now unknown medieval given name. An older Latin form of the surname was Garsea, but the roots of this name may well pre-date the Latin era and come from the Basque language.

Early Origins of the Garcia family

The surname Garcia was first found in Navarre, where the name is documented in the earliest records.

Garcia Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Garcia, García, Garsea, Garsía, Garsia, Garcies, Guarsea, Guarseas, Garsías, Garsias, Gassía, Gassia, Garci, Garcés, Garces, Garcíaz, Garciaz, Garséaz, Garseaz, Gasset, Garcet, Gracía, Gracia and many more.

Early Notables of the Garcia family

Prominent among members of the family were Count García of Navarre (d. 857), García I, king of Leon from 910-914, and García I of Navarre, who ruled 925-970. King García IV ruled Navarre from 1134-1150. Also of note were Gil Garcíez Dazagra, knight of the order of Santiago, Diego García de Paredes and Alvar García de Mendoza, who fought for Ferdinand and Isabella during the conquest…
Another 66 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Garcia Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Garcia World Ranking

In Canada, the name Garcia is the 500^th most popular surname with an estimated 9,793 people with that name. 1 However, in Quebec, Canada, the name Garcia is ranked the 810^th most popular surname. 2 And in the United States, the name Garcia is the 18^th popular surname with an estimated 631,698 people with that name. 3 France ranks Garcia as 15^th with 68,720 people. 4 South America ranks Garcia as 4^th with 411 people. 5

 Garcia migration to Australia+

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

Garcia Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. William Garcia, English convict who was convicted in London, England for life, transported aboard the “Atlas” on 16th January 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6

 Garcia migration to West Indies+

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960’s many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 7

Garcia Settlers in West Indies in the 16th Century

• Anton García, to Cuba in 1561

Garcia Settlers in West Indies in the 19th Century

• Blas Garcia, who landed in Dominican Republic in 1835 8
• Haman Garcia, who landed in Dominican Republic in 1836 8
• Domingo Garcia, who arrived in Dominican Republic in 1838 8

 Garcia migration to the United States+

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Garcia Settlers in United States in the 16th Century

• Alejo García, who arrived in the New World in 1528 and explored Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil
• Lope García de Castro was governor of Peru in the 1560s
• Ana García, to Colombia in 1561
• Catalina García, who immigrated to Venezuela in 1561
• Alonso García, to Hispaniola in 1562
• … (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Garcia Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Mr. Juan Garcia, French settler traveling aboard the ship “Le Beaumont” arriving in Louisiana on 19th August 1785 9
• Mrs. Francois Garcia (nee Courtin), French settler traveling aboard the ship “Le Beaumont” arriving in Louisiana on 19th August 1785 9

Garcia Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Heman Garcia, who landed in America in 1811 8
• Gonzalo Garcia, who arrived in America in 1811 8
• Alonso Garcia, who arrived in America in 1811 8
• Elvira Garcia, who landed in Espanola in 1811 8
• Francisco Garcia, who arrived in America in 1811 8
• … (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Garcia Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Bruno Garcia, who arrived in Texas in 1910 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Garcia (post 1700)+

• Pedro Luis García Pérez (1939-2025), Spanish mathematician, physicist and academic, president of the Royal Spanish Mathematical Society (1982-1988)
• Agustín García Calvo (1926-2012), Spanish philologist, philosopher, poet, and playwright
• Francisco García Gómez (1938-2024), commonly known as Paquito, Spanish football midfielder and manager
• Francisco García Gómez (1938-2024), commonly known as Paquito, a Spanish football midfielder and manager
• Mariano Anastasio Moreno García OSA (1938-2023), Spanish Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Cafayate from 2008 to 2014
• Maruja García Nicolau (1943-2021), Spanish model, Miss Europe (1962) and Miss Spain (1962)
• Jorge García Santos (1957-2020), Spanish professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper
• Jaime Blanco García (1944-2020), Spanish politician and President of Cantabria between 1990 and 1991
• Ángel Pérez García (1957-2019), Spanish footballer who played as a defender, and was a manager
• Alberto Coto García (b. 1970), Spanish mental calculator, World Champion in mental calculation from 2008 to 2010
• … (Another 55 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)