A garth is an enclosed quadrangle or yard, especially one surrounded by a cloister (Middle English; Old Norse garþr, garðr; akin to Anglo-Saxon geard). This led to the word being given as a last name to people who worked in or near a garden. Later it came to be used as a first name.
It is also possible that the name Garth comes from Gareth [ˈɡarɛθ], a Welsh masculine given name of uncertain meaning. It first appeared in this form in Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, in which it belonged to Sir Gareth, a brother of Gawain and one of the Knights of the Round Table. Malory based it on Gahariet, a name found in French Arthurian texts; it may have a Welsh origin, perhaps connected with the name Geraint, or the word gwaredd, meaning "gentleness". It is particularly popular in Wales, and Gary is sometimes taken as a pet form of it.
Given name
Garth Brooks (born 1962), top-selling American country music artist
Garth Christian, English nature writer
Garth Crooks (born 1958), former Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur footballer
Garth Everett (1954-2023), American attorney and lawyer
Garth Drabinsky (born 1949), former Canadian film and theatrical producer and entrepreneur Garth Ennis (born 1970), Irish comics writer Garth Fagan (born 1940), Jamaican choreographer Garth Hound, San Francisco based electronic musician Garth Hudson (born 1937), Canadian organist for rock group The Band Garth Jennings (born 1972), film director in "Hammer & Tongs" team Garth Nix (born 1963), Australian fantasy author Garth Richardson, music producer Garth Saloner (born c. 1955), South African-born American economist Garth Snow (born 1969), American ice hockey goaltender Garth Tander (born 1977), Australian racing driver Hon. Garth Turner (born 1949), Canadian MP for Halton (1988–1993 and 2006–2008) Garth Williams (1912–1996), American children's book illustrator
Fictional characters
Garth, an anthropomorphic wolf from the animated film series Alpha and Omega
Garth, Judge Henry, fictional character on the TV show The Virginian
Garth, the Hero of Will from the video game series Fable
Garth family, farmers in the 19th century novel Middlemarch, A Study of Provincial Life Garth (comic strip), hero of long-running British newspaper strip, in the 1970s drawn by Frank Bellamy and Martin Asbury Garth, a DC Comics superhero also known as Aqualad and Tempest Garth, in the Heritage of Shannara series by Terry Brooks Garth Algar, a main character from the skit and film series Wayne's World Garth Fitzgerald IV, from the series Supernatural Garth Marenghi, a fictional horror author Garth of Izar, a Fleet Captain in the Star Trek episode "Whom Gods Destroy" Garth Ranzz, a DC Comics character also known as Lightning Lad or Live Wire Garth Volbeck, a character in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Garth Stubbs, nicknamed ‘Garthy’ a character in ‘Birds of a Feather’
Surname
Brian Garth (born 1979), American singer, songwriter, guitarist, musician, sound engineer and producer, co-creator of Black Camaro Charles Garth (c. 1734–1784), British Member of Parliament, British Crown Agent for South Carolina, Georgia and briefly Maryland Jennie Garth (born 1972), American Beverly Hills, 90210 actress Jimmy Garth (1922–1972), Scottish footballer John Garth (1701–1764), British politician John Garth (composer) (1721–1810), English composer Kim Garth (born 1996), Irish women's cricketer Lakita Garth, African-American advocate of sexual abstinence, public speaker and author Leonard I. Garth (1921–2016), American judge Richard Garth (1820–1903), Chief Justice of Bengal and Privy Counsellor Samuel Garth (1661–1719), British physician Thomas Garth (British Army officer) (1744–1829), British Army general, chief equerry to George III Thomas Garth (Royal Navy) (died 1841), British Royal Navy captain