Surname LaGard - Meaning and Origin
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LaGard: What does the surname LaGard mean?
The last name LaGard is a French surname that originated from the Normandy region of France. The name refers to a person who descended from a family with the name "La Gard", meaning "the guard" or "the protector". The surname is thought to refer to a person who worked as a guard for the local lord. The name likely developed as an occupational surname, with the person involved in the task of guarding the lord's property becoming known by the name LaGard.
Today, the name is found in Belgium, France, Germany, and the United States. In the United States, LaGard is a relatively common name and is most widely found in the southern states, particularly in Louisiana, where it is the 91st most common surname in the state.
The meaning of the name LaGard can be interpreted as "guardian", "protector", or "defender". It is likely that the original bearer of the surname was responsible for protecting his lord's land or property. LaGard can also be interpreted as an occupational surname, suggesting that the original bearer of the surname was responsible for protecting the interests of a lord or nobleman. In either case, the last name LaGard is a testament to the importance of security in the Middle Ages.
Order DNA origin analysisLaGard: Where does the name LaGard come from?
The last name LaGard is most commonly found in countries in the Western Hemisphere. In the United States, particularly in areas along the East Coast stretching from New York and New Jersey down into Florida, the name is prevalent in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine. Within these places, large concentrations of people with the LaGard surname are located in Fairfield County, Connecticut and Counties Middlesex and Essex, Massachusetts.
In Canada, the LaGard family can be found scattered throughout the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Manitoba. Elsewhere in the western hemisphere, the LaGard surname is present in many countries of Central America, such as Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El Salvador, as well as Peru and Uruguay in South America.
Although the LaGard last name is not as common in the European continent as it is in the US and other western hemisphere countries, it still has a presence in many countries, such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Sweden, and Sloveknia.
The origins of the LaGard name remain unknown. Some speculate that it is descended from the Gaelic name McChard, while others claim it is related to the French term for a horse’s harness “la garde.” Despite the debate, it is clear that the LaGard surname is an important part of European and Western Hemisphere heritage.
Variations of the surname LaGard
The LaGard surname has a few different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. One of these is Lagarde, which is a popular French derivative. Other variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include La Garde, LaGuard, La Garder, La Gardes, and Lagard.
In French, the LaGard surname's original meaning is “of the guard”, and is derived from the Old Norse word “vörðr”. One of its earliest recorded uses is recorded from1295 in France as “de la Garde”. Over time, it became popularized as “LaGard”.
One of the Latin forms of LaGard is “de LaGarde”. Additionally, it is found in some records with a variety of other Latin spellings and variants, such as “De La Gard”, “De Legarda”, and “De Legard”.
In some cultures, LaGard is further stylized as La Garda. In German, the surname is sometimes spelled as “Lagarde”, or “Lagarden”. In some cases, the surname is found as “Lagardes” or “Lagardo”. Furthermore, the surname is sometimes found in Portuguese records as “Lagar” or “Lagares”. In Spanish, it is sometimes spelled as “Lagarda”, “Lagarde”, or “Largarda”.
Finally, the LaGard surname can also be found as “Legarda” – a Portuguese derivative. Additionally, another surname of the same origin is “Legard”. This derivative is located mainly in England.
Famous people with the name LaGard
- Ryan LaGard: actor, singer, and songwriter
- J.J. LaGard: singer and songwriter
- Richie LaGard: singer and songwriter
- Mike LaGard: NFL player
- Dusty LaGard: NASCAR driver
- Miggy LaGard: MLB player
- Mila LaGard: fashion designer
- Fred LaGard: Olympic sprinter
- Ashleigh LaGard: professional dancer
- Tamara LaGard: golf professional