Surname Gharst - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Gharst: What does the surname Gharst mean?
The last name Gharst is a British surname of Germanic origin, originally from the areas of the Rhineland. The roots of the name lie in the Middle High German term "gharst" meaning "fear" or "dread". It was likely first used a surname to refer to a menacing or intimidating figure. Thus, it is likely derived from an Old Germanic first name associated with qualities of strength, boldness, and daring.
The first record of the Gharst surname is from documents dating back to 1250 in the German region of Schwaben. Since then, it has spread across Europe and beyond. Today the Gharst surname is quite common in English speaking countries. For example, the surname is often found in the United Kingdom and the United States.
The Gharst family also had a fairly extensive history in the United States, as members of the family were some of the first to settle in New Jersey and Maryland. It is likely that these particular members of the Gharst family came from Western Germany.
Overall, the last name Gharst indicates a family with strong and brave ancestors. This is likely due to the original meaning attributed to the name, which is thought to have been associated with fearlessness and boldness. As such, the Gharst family carries this legacy with them to this day.
Order DNA origin analysisGharst: Where does the name Gharst come from?
The last name Gharst is most commonly found today in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany. In the United States, the most populous states with this name are Ohio, Pennsylvania, and California. In Canada, Gharst is most common in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta. In the United Kingdom, Gharst is most commonly found in England, Scotland, and Wales.
Gharst is a name of German origins. It is found in Germany, particularly in Bavaria and North-Rhine Westphalia. The name is a variation of the German name 'Graf'. It can also be found in other Germanic countries like Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. Gharst is also found throughout the rest of Europe, including countries like France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal.
Beyond Europe, Gharst can be found in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. It is also quite common in Latin American countries, such as Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil. The name is also found in parts of Asia, particularly in India and China. In India, Gharst is most commonly used in Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh states.
Gharst is a unique name with a long history, and its continuing presence in numerous parts of the world is a testament to its staying power.
Variations of the surname Gharst
Gharst is a surname of English, Irish and Scottish origin. It is an anglicized variant of the Irish Gaelic "O' Garracht" and the Scots Gaelic "McGarast".
The Irish variant can be spelled in many ways, such as O'Garat, O'Garacht, O'Gara, O'Garagh, Garrat, Garratt, Garatt or Garat. The Scottish variant can be spelled as MacGarast. In addition to these variants, the surname could also be found anglicised as Gharast, Garast, Garst and Garstang.
Some variants of the Gharst surname are quite rare and are possibly derived from other, unrelated sources. For instance, Gherst is a variant of German origin and Gherster is a variant of Jewish origin. Ghersi is an Italian variant of the surname which is also sometimes spelt Gherzi or Ghirzi. Gherst is also the name of a Belgian municipality.
Overall, Gharst is a relatively common surname, found mainly in England, Ireland and Scotland. With its many variants, spellings and surnames, this surname could be the source of several family trees.
Famous people with the name Gharst
- Joe Gharst: journalist and contributing editor to the Grand Rapids Magazine.
- Justin Gharst: NCAA Division II football player and graduate assistant at Ball State University.
- John Gharst: US Army veteran who served in Iraq and Kuwait.
- Robert Gharst: Lieutenant Colonel in the US Air Force who served in Iraq in 2004.
- Earl Gharst: former professional NASCAR driver and coach.
- Bill Gharst: retired professional baseball pitcher in the American League.
- Ella Gharst: professional darts player and two-time winner of the Women's World Professional Championship.
- Tom Gharst: former basketball coach and winner of the National Coach of the Year Award.
- Mary Gharst: award-winning jazz saxophonist known for her dynamic and soulful approach.
- Peter Gharst: owner and founder of Gharst Construction Company, a leading international construction firm.