Garnet is a name of

Middle English Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman Conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English pe ...

origin, derived from the dark red

gemstone A gemstone (also called a fine gem, jewel, precious stone, semiprecious stone, or simply gem) is a piece of mineral crystal which, when cut or polished, is used to make jewellery, jewelry or other adornments. Certain Rock (geology), rocks (such ...

, which was in turn named for the

pomegranate The pomegranate (''Punica granatum'') is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub in the family Lythraceae, subfamily Punica, Punicoideae, that grows between tall. Rich in symbolic and mythological associations in many cultures, it is thought to have o ...

that the

garnet Garnets () are a group of silicate minerals that have been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones and abrasives. Garnet minerals, while sharing similar physical and crystallographic properties, exhibit a wide range of chemical compositions, de ...

crystals resemble. The surname Garnett has multiple origins. It could come from an

Old English Old English ( or , or ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the Early Middle Ages. It developed from the languages brought to Great Britain by Anglo-S ...

occupational surname referring to a seller of

hinge A hinge is a mechanical bearing that connects two solid objects, typically allowing only a limited angle of rotation between them. Two objects connected by an ideal hinge rotate relative to each other about a fixed axis of rotation, with all ...

s, be derived from '' Guarin'', a

Norman French Norman or Norman French (, , Guernésiais: , Jèrriais: ) is a '' langue d'oïl'' spoken in the historical and cultural region of Normandy. The name "Norman French" is sometimes also used to describe the administrative languages of '' Angl ...

version of the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

name ''Warin'', meaning '' to ward off'' or an occupational name referring to someone who grows or sells pomegranates. It might have been used for boys as a given name in reference to Garnet Wolseley, a British field marshal. As a name for girls, it was likely used in reference to the gemstone. Other gemstone names came into fashion for girls in the 1800s and early 1900s. It is both a

surname In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

and a

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...

. Garnet was among the top 1,000 names for girls in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

between 1884 and 1944. It was most popular in 1911, when it was the 376th most popular given name for American girls. It was in occasional use for boys in the United States between 1882 and 1925. It was most popular in 1904, when it was 593rd most popular name for American boys. The name has not appeared among the top 1,000 names for boys or girls since 1944 in the United States.

People

Surname

* Eldon Garnet (born 1946), Canadian artist *

Henry Garnet Henry Garnet (July 1555 – 3 May 1606), sometimes Henry Garnett, was an English Jesuit priest executed for high treason in the United Kingdom, high treason, based solely on having had advance knowledge of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot and having ...

(1555–1606), English Jesuit *

Henry Highland Garnet Henry Highland Garnet (December 23, 1815 – February 13, 1882) was an American abolitionist, minister, educator, orator, and diplomat. Having escaped as a child from slavery in Maryland with his family, he grew up in New York City. He was ed ...

(1815–1882), African-American abolitionist * John Roslyn Garnet (1906–1998), Australian biochemist and naturalist * Sarah J. Garnet (1883–1911), African-American educator * Thomas Garnet (1575–1608), English Jesuit priest

First name

* Garnet Ault (1905–1993), Canadian swimmer * Garnet Bailey (1946–2001), Canadian ice hockey player * Garnet Baltimore (1859–1946), African-American engineer * Garnet Bloomfield (1929–2018), Canadian politician * Garnet Bougoure (1923–2008), Australian jockey * Garnet Brown (1930–2010), Canadian businessman * Garnet Campbell (1903–1971), former Australian rules footballer * Garnet H. Carroll (1902–1964), Australian theatre producer * Garnet Clark (1917–1938), American jazz pianist *

Garnet Coleman Garnet Fredrick Coleman (born September 8, 1961) is an American politician. From 1991 to 2022, he was a member of the Texas legislature, Texas House of Representatives for the 147th district, located entirely within Houston and Harris County, Te ...

(born 1961), American politician * Garnet Coulter (1882–1975), Canadian politician * Garnet Exelby (born 1981), Canadian ice hockey player * Garnet Hathaway (1991) American ice hockey player * Garnet Hughes (1880–1937), Canadian military officer * Garnet Jex (1895–1979), American artist and historian * Garnet Kearney (1884–1971), Canadian doctor * Garnet Lee (1887–1978), English cricketer * Garnet Mackley (1883–1986), New Zealand businessman and politician * Garnet Malley (1892–1961), Australia WWI flying ace * Garnet Mimms (born 1933), American singer * Garnet Richardson (1933-2016), former Canadian curler *

Garnet Rogers Garnet Rogers (born May 1955) is a Canadian folk musician, singer, songwriter and composer. He was born in Hamilton, Ontario with Maritime roots. Early life Rogers was born in Hamilton, Ontario to Nathan Allison Rogers and Valerie (née Bushell) ...

(born 1955), Canadian musician *

Garnet Walch Garnet Walch (1 October 1843 in Broadmarsh, Van Diemen's Land – 3 January 1913 in Melbourne), was an Australian writer, dramatist, journalist and publisher. The youngest son of Major J. W. H. Walch, of H.M. 54th Regiment, he went on to become ...

(1843–1913), Australian writer *

Garnet Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley Field Marshal Garnet Joseph Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley (4 June 183325 March 1913) was an Anglo-Irish officer in the British Army. He became one of the most influential British generals after a series of victories in Canada, West Africa and E ...

(1833–1913), British Army officer

People

Surname

First name

Notes

See also