García (surname)
Pronunciation | [ɡaɾˈθi.a] (Spain) or [ɡaɾˈsi.a] (Latin America) |
---|---|
Origin | |
Region of origin | Iberian Peninsula |
Other names | |
Variant form(s) | Garci, Garza, Garcia, Garcés, Garcicea, Garciandia, Gassie, Gassion, Gaztea |
Frequency Comparisons:[1] |
Garcia or García is an Iberian surname common throughout Spain, Portugal, parts of France, the Americas, and the Philippines. It is a surname of patronymic origin; García was a very common first name in early medieval Iberian Peninsula.
It was possibly a Basque surname called "Gaztea", and later was Castilianized, into the medieval Kingdom of Castile, becoming "García".
It is attested since the High Middle Ages north and south of the Pyrenees (Basque Culture Territories), with the surname (sometimes first name too) thriving, especially on the Kingdom of Navarre, and spreading out to Castile and other Spanish regions.
Origin of the name[]
believed it to derive from the Basque adjective garze(a) meaning "young", whose modern form is gaztea or gaztia.[2][3] Ramón Menéndez Pidal and Antonio Tovar suggested it may come from the Basque word (H)artz, meaning "(the) Bear".[4][5][6][7][2] A third etymology suggests it may derive from the Basque words "Gazte Hartz", meaning "(the) young bear".[citation needed] Variant forms of the name include Garcicea, Gartzi, Gartzia, Gartze, Garsea, and Gastea.[8] The original Basque form with an affricate sibilant (/ts/, Basque spelling tz) evolved in Spanish to the current form.
There are Gasconic cognates of Garcia like Gassie and Gassion[9] (Béarn, Gassio 14th century,[10] real name of Edith Piaf, born Edith Gassion).
Other theories suggest that García is of Germanic origin and may derive from wars meaning young warrior [11] or the Visigothic words garxa and garcha meaning graceful prince.[12]
Popularity[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Spanish_surnames_by_province_of_residence.png/350px-Spanish_surnames_by_province_of_residence.png)
García is the most common surname in Spain (where 3.32% of population is named García)[13] and also the second most common surname in Mexico.
In the 1990 United States Census, Garcia was the 18th most reported surname, accounting for 0.25% of the population.[14] It became more common since then, jumping to 8th place in 2000.[15]
Garcia was quite rare before the 1st World War in France, except in the French Pays Basque,[16] Garcia is now[when?] the 14th most common surname in France (the 8th one for the number of birth between 1966 and 1990), due to an important Spanish immigration.[17][18] It ranked 2nd in the region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur after the number of births 1966–1990.[19]
García is also the third most common surname amongst Spaniards in the United Kingdom.
Geographical distribution[]
As of 2014, 33.2% of all known bearers of the surname García were residents of Mexico (frequency 1:35), 14.1% of Spain (1:31), 8.4% of the United States (1:402), 6.0% of Colombia (1:74), 4.6% of Venezuela (1:62), 4.4% of Brazil (1:435), 4.1% of the Philippines (1:230), 3.9% of Guatemala (1:39), 3.0% of Argentina (1:134), 2.8% of Cuba (1:38), 2.8% of Peru (1:105), 1.8% of Ecuador (1:83), 1.7% of Honduras (1:48), 1.5% of the Dominican Republic (1:64), 1.4% of Nicaragua (1:41), 1.2% of El Salvador (1:47) and 1.1% of France (1:576).
In Spain, the frequency of the surname was higher than average (1:31) in the following regions:
- 1. Asturias (1:16)
- 2. Castile and León (1:20)
- 3. Region of Murcia (1:22)
- 4. Castilla–La Mancha (1:24)
- 5. Andalusia (1:29)
- 6. Community of Madrid (1:29)
- 7. Cantabria (1:29)
- 8. Canary Islands (1:30)
In Mexico, the frequency of the surname was higher than average (1:35) in the following states:[20]
- 1. Oaxaca (1:22)
- 2. Tabasco (1:27)
- 3. Michoacán (1:28)
- 4. Guerrero (1:30)
- 5. Tamaulipas (1:30)
- 6. State of Mexico (1:31)
- 7. Coahuila (1:32)
- 8. Veracruz (1:33)
- 9. Jalisco (1:33)
- 10. Nuevo León (1:33)
- 11. Mexico City (1:34)
- 12. Guanajuato (1:34)
- 13. Morelos (1:34)
People[]
A[]
- Aaron Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
- Adam Garcia (born 1973), Australian actor
- Adrián García (born 1978), Chilean tennis player
- Adrian García Arias (born 1975), Mexican footballer
- Aimee Garcia (born 1978), Mexican American actress
- Akeem Garcia (born 1996), Trinidadian footballer
- Alan García (1949–2019), Politician and former President of Peru from 1985–1990; 2006–2011
- Alejandro García (disambiguation), multiple people
- Alex Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
- Alfredo García-Baró (born 1972), Cuban sprinter
- Alfredo García Green (born 1953), Mexican politician
- Amadeo García (1887–1947), Spanish football manager
- Ana García Carías (born 1968), Honduran lawyer and First Lady
- Ana María García (born 1957), Cuban volleyball player
- Anastasio Somoza García (1896–1956), President of Nicaragua
- Andrés García (born 1941), Mexican actor
- Andy García (born 1956), Cuban American actor
- Anier García (born 1976), Cuban athlete in the 2000 Summer Olympics
- Anthony Garcia, New Zealand professional wrestler of Yugoslavian and Irish descent
- Antonio García (disambiguation), multiple people
- (born 1976), US Bitcoin pioneer
B[]
- Bangs Garcia (born 1987), Filipino actress
- Bartolomé García del Nodal (1574–1622), Spanish explorer
- Bebel García García (1914–1936), Spanish footballer and politician
- Bianca Garcia, member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
- Boniek García (born 1984), Honduran footballer
- Bonnie Garcia, Representative of California's 80th Assembly District
- Brenna Garcia
- Brianna Monique Garcia Colace Danielson (born 1983; as Garcia Colace) twin pro-wrestler Brie Bella
- Borja García (born 1982), Spanish race car driver
- Brianna Garcia (born 1983), American professional wrestler
C[]
- Calixto García (1839–1898), Cuban military leader
- Caloy Garcia (born 1975), Filipino basketball coach
- Cancio Garcia (1937–2013), Filipino lawyer and judge
- Candelario Garcia (1944–2013), United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
- Carlos Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
- Carmelo Garcia, American politician from New Jersey
- Caroline Garcia (born 1993), French professional tennis player
- Monsieur Periné , Colombian singer/songwriter, frontwoman of
- Cédric Garcia (born 1982), French-Spanish rugby player
- Ceferino Garcia (1912–1981), Filipino boxer
- Charles Patrick Garcia (born 1961), Panamanian-American author, Hispanic leader, businessman
- Charly García (born 1951), Argentine musician
- Cheska Garcia, Filipino actress
- Christian Garcia Major League Baseball pitcher
- Coleen Garcia
- Concha García Campoy (1958–2013), Spanish radio and television journalist
- Cristina García (disambiguation), multiple people
- Cristino Garcia (1914–1946), Spanish fighter with the French Resistance during World War II
D[]
- Dámaso García (1957–2020), Dominican baseball player
- Danay Garcia, Cuban actress
- Daniel García (disambiguation), multiple people
- Danna García (born 1978), Colombian actress and singer
- David García Ilundáin (1971-2002), Spanish chess grandmaster
- Dean Garcia, British studio musician, former member of rock band Curve
- Destra Garcia {born 1978}, female Trinidadian soca singer
- Diana Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
- Diego Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
- Domingo García (Dominic de la Calzada) (1019–1109), Spanish saint
- Dora García (born 1965), Spanish artist
- (born 1992), Spanish artist
- Dario Garcia (born 1968), Olympian
- Dolores Lewis Garcia (born 1938), Native American potter
E[]
- Eddie Garcia (1929-2019), Filipino film actor and director
- Eduardo García de Enterría (1923–2013), Spanish jurist
- Eric Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
- Erica Garcia (born 1978), Argentinean musician and actress
- Esmeralda de Jesus Garcia (born 1959), Brazilian track and field athlete
- Esther Herranz García (born 1969), Spanish politician, Member of the European Parliament
F[]
- Federico García Lorca (1898–1936), Spanish poet and dramatist
- Felipe Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
- Fernando García (disambiguation), multiple people
- Fernando Soto-Hay y Garcia
- Francisco García (disambiguation), multiple people
- Frank Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
- Freddie Garcia (born 1952), Mexican-American soccer player
- Freddy García (born 1976), Venezuelan-American baseball player
- Freddy García (disambiguation), multiple people
G[]
- Gabriel García (disambiguation), multiple people
- Gael García Bernal (born 1978), Mexican actor
- Gary Garcia, half of the musical duo Buckner & Garcia
- Gazzy Garcia (born 2000), American rapper known professionally as Lil Pump
- Genaro García (1977–2013), Mexican boxer
- Gildardo García (1954–2021), Colombian chess player
- St. Gonsalo Garcia (1556–1597), Portuguese-Indian Roman Catholic saint
- Gonzalo Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
- Gustavo C. Garcia (1915–1964), Mexican-American civil rights activist
- Gwendolyn Garcia (born 1955), Filipino politician, governor of Cebu from 2004–2013, and since 2019
H[]
- Héctor García (disambiguation), multiple people
- Humberto García (disambiguation), multiple people
I[]
- Ibn Gharsiya, Andalusi writer.
- Iolanda García Sàez, Spanish ski mountaineer
- Inez Garcia, feminist cause célèbre
- Iratxe García, Spanish politician, Member of the European Parliament
- Isaac García (born 1968), Mexican long-distance runner
- Iván García (disambiguation), multiple people
J[]
- Jacques Garcia, French designer
- Jaime García (born 1986), Mexican baseball player
- Jaime García (equestrian) (1910–1959), Spanish horse rider
- Jean Garcia, Filipino telenovela actress
- Jason Garcia, American professional baseball player
- Jean-Louis Garcia (born 1962), French soccer player
- Jeff Garcia (born 1970), NFL and former Canadian football player of Irish and Mexican descent
- Jennica Garcia, Filipino actress
- Jerry Garcia (1942–1995), American rock-and-roll musician (Grateful Dead)
- Jessica Marie Garcia, American actress
- Jesús García (1881–1907), Mexican railroad brakeman and national hero
- Jesús García (disambiguation), multiple people
- JoAnna Garcia (born 1979), American actress
- Joaquín "Jack" García (born 1952), Cuban-American FBI agent
- Joaquín Torres-García (1874-1949), Uruguayan artist with global influence in 20th Century Art
- Jonathan Aguilar Garcia (1972–2019), Filipino comedian, actor, and TV host, better known by his stage name Chokoleit
- John Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
- Johnny García, Mexican footballer
- Jorge Garcia (born 1979), Hispanic American actor
- José García (disambiguation), multiple people
- Joseph Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
- Juan Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
- Juanín García (born 1977), Spanish handball player
- Julio García (disambiguation), multiple people
K[]
- Kathryn Garcia (born 1970), Commissioner of the New York City Sanitation Department
L[]
- Léa Garcia (born 1933), Brazilian actress
- Lilian Garcia (born 1966), Spanish-American singer and former WWE ring announcer
- Luis García (disambiguation), multiple people
M[]
- Mannie Garcia, freelance photojournalist
- Manolo García, Spanish singer and painter
- Manolo García (make-up artist), Spanish make-up artist
- Manuel García (disambiguation), multiple people
- Marcario Garcia (1920–1972), Mexican-born United States Medal of Honor winner
- Marcela Bovio García (born 1979), Mexican singer, lead vocalist of the metal band Stream of Passion
- Marcelino García Toral (born 1965), Spanish football coach
- Marcelino García (cyclist) (born 1971), Spanish professional road bicycle racer
- Marcelo García (disambiguation), multiple people
- Maria Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
- María Dolores García Cotarelo, Granada politician
- Marilinda Garcia, member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
- Marina García Urzainqui (born 1994), Spanish swimmer
- Martín García (disambiguation), multiple people
- , Hunter
- Mayra García (born 1972), Mexican beach volleyball player
- Maricris Garcia, Filipino singer
- Mayte Jannell Garcia (born 1973), Puerto Rican-American dancer
- Melani García (born 2007), Spanish classical singer
- Miguel García (disambiguation), multiple people
- Michael Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
- Mireia García (born 1981), Spanish butterfly swimmer
N[]
- Natalie Garcia (born 2003), Canadian rhythmic gymnast
- Néstor García (disambiguation), multiple people
- Nieves García Vicente (born 1955), Spanish chess master
- Nick Garcia (born 1979), Mexican American soccer player
- Nicole Garcia (born 1946), French actress, film director and writer
- Nina García (born 1967), Colombian fashion journalist and critic
- Nubya Garcia (born 1991), British jazz saxophonist, composer and bandleader
O[]
- Odalys Garcia (born 1975), Cuban-American actress and television show host
- Oskar Matute García de Jalón (born 1972), Basque politician
- Orlando Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
P[]
- Pablo Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
- Paloma García Ovejero (born 1975), Spanish journalist
- Patrick Garcia (born 1981), Filipino actor
- Pedro Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
- Pete Garcia, Athletic director of Florida International University
- Pierre-Emmanuel Garcia (born 1983), French rugby player
- Pilar "Ailyn" Giménez García (born 1982), Spanish singer, lead vocalist of the gothic metal band Sirenia
R[]
- Radamel García (1957–2019), Colombian footballer
- Radamel Falcao García (born 1986), Colombian footballer
- Rafael García (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ramón García (disambiguation), multiple people
- Raúl García (disambiguation), multiple people
- Rebecca Garcia (computer programmer), American computer programmer
- Rebecca Garcia (politician) (born 1973), Brazilian economist and politician
- Renaud Garcia-Fons (born 1962), French upright-bass player and composer
- Ricardo Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
- Richard Garcia (born 1981), Australian soccer player
- Robert Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
- Roberto García (disambiguation), multiple people
- Rodrigo García (disambiguation), multiple people
- Rómulo García (1927–2005), Archbishop of Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Rosman García (born 1979), Venezuelan-American baseball player
- RR Garcia (born 1990), Filipino basketball player
- Ruben Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
- Rudi Garcia (born 1964), French football manager
- Ryan García (born 1998), American boxer
S[]
- Salvador García (disambiguation), multiple people
- Sara García (1895–1980), Mexican actress
- Sergent Garcia, stage name of Bruno Garcia (born 1964), French solo artist
- Sergio García (born 1980), Spanish golfer
- Stephanie Nicole Garcia Colace (born 1983) twin pro-wrestler Nikki Bella
- Stephanie Garcia (born 1988), American athlete
- Sunny Garcia (born 1970), Hawaiian surfer
T[]
- Tony Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
V[]
- Vanessa García (born 1984), Puerto Rican freestyle swimmer
- Victor Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
W[]
- Willis García (born 1970), Venezuelan judoka
- Winston Garcia (born 1958), Filipino politician and lawyer
X[]
- Xavier García (disambiguation), multiple people
Y[]
- Ylona Garcia (born 2002), Filipino-Australian actress, singer, and model
- Yohan García (born 1982), Cuban swimmer
- Yordanis García (born 1988), Cuban decathlete
- Yusmely García (born 1983), Venezuelan hurdler
Fictional characters[]
- Isabella Garcia-Shapiro in Phineas and Ferb
- Juan García Cortes, in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
- Penelope Garcia in the crime drama Criminal Minds
- Robert Garcia, video game character in the Art of Fighting and King of Fighters series
- Sergeant García, a character from Johnston McCulley's Zorro franchise who originated from Walt Disney's 1950s television series adaptation
- Antonio Garcia, a character in the television show Power Rangers: Samurai
- Dr. Che Garcia, the main antagonist in the video game Last Alert
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "García Surname Meaning and Distribution". forebears.co.uk.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Gartzia (Garzia, García) euskal deitura dela eta, language question presented to the answered by .
- ^ For the lost r, compare the attested historic alternations bost~bortz 'five', oste~ortze 'sky', etc.
- ^ "Garcia".
- ^ "Garcia Last Name Origin".
- ^ "Garcia Genealogy & History".
- ^ "Garcia name meaning".
- ^ "Nombres" (in Spanish). Euskaltzaindia (The Royal Academy of the Basque Language). Retrieved 2010-10-12.
- ^ Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, réédition Larousse 1980, p. 280b
- ^ DAUZAT 280b
- ^ Elián, Juan Sebastián (2001). El gran libro de los apellidos y la heráldica. ISBN 9788479275495.
- ^ Piferrer, Francisco (1858). "Nobiliario de los reinos y señoríos de España ...: Ilustrado con un diccionario de heráldica, adornado con más de dos mil escudos de armas".
- ^ INE (Spain's Statistics National Institute)
- ^ United States Census Bureau (9 May 1995). s:1990 Census Name Files dist.all.last (1-100). Retrieved on 2008-07-04.
- ^ "Frequently Occurring Surnames From Census 2000". census.gov. August 27, 2008. Archived from the original on November 19, 2007. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
- ^ Garcia in France before WWI
- ^ Garcia : births (naiss.) in France from 1966 to 1990
- ^ List of the most common surnames in France
- ^ [1]
- ^ Garcia surname distribution
- Surnames
- Basque-language surnames
- Spanish-language surnames
- Surnames of Spanish origin