Garcia is a Spanish surname of Basque origin, meaning "from the estate or village of Gar". It derives from the Basque given name Garikoitz, which is composed of two elements: "garai" meaning "time", and "koitz" meaning "flourishing". The Garcia family was one of the most prominent noble families in the Spanish kingdom of Castile during the Middle Ages.
The surname Garcia first appeared in the province of Biscay in northern Spain, where they held a family seat as early as the 13th century. They were known to have been seated at Garai, a village located near the town of Orduña. The name Garcia is believed to have originated from the Basque given name Garikoitz, which was borne by several early members of the Garcia family.
Throughout history, the Garcia family has played an important role in Spanish politics and society. They were closely connected with the ruling houses of Castile and Aragon, providing numerous kings and nobles with loyal servants and advisors. Some notable figures bearing the surname Garcia include:
* García I of Navarre, also known as García Sánchez II of Pamplona (931-970), who ruled the Kingdom of Pamplona from 943 until his death.
* García II of Navarre, also known as García IV of Pamplona (964-994), son of the aforementioned García I. He succeeded his father in 970 and was one of the first monarchs to use the title "King of Navarre".
* Garcia de Mendoza y Figueroa, Duke of Francavilla (1551-1609), a Spanish nobleman who served as a diplomat and military leader during the reign of Philip II.
* José María García (1841-1883), also known as "Pepito el Manco" ("One-armed Pepito"), was a Spanish soldier and writer who fought against the French in the Third Carlist War.
Today, Garcia is one of the most common surnames in Spain, with millions of bearers worldwide. Despite its Basque origins, it has been widely adopted by other regions of Spain, as well as by people of Hispanic descent living elsewhere around the globe. It remains a name associated with Spanish culture and heritage, carrying with it a rich history of noble lineage and notable figures throughout the centuries.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Garcia has seen a varied number of births over the years in the United States. The first recorded year with births for this name is 1913, with a total of 5 babies given the name Garcia that year.
The name's popularity fluctuated greatly throughout the decades. There were periods where the number of births was relatively low, such as between 1927 and 1946, with an average of fewer than 6 births per year. However, there were also times when the name's popularity surged. Between 1953 and 1958, the number of babies named Garcia ranged from a high of 14 in 1958 to a low of 7 in 1952.
Interestingly, after a brief decline in the late 1960s to early 1970s (with as few as 5 births in some years), the name's popularity picked up again. Between 1973 and 1984, there were between 6 and 11 births per year for Garcia.
The most recent data available is from 2015, with 5 babies named Garcia born that year. Over the course of the entire period covered by these statistics (from 1913 to 2015), a total of 423 babies were given the name Garcia in the United States.
This information provides valuable insights into the historical trend and popularity of the name Garcia over time, demonstrating its enduring presence among American baby names.