Surname Margard - Meaning and Origin
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Margard: What does the surname Margard mean?
The last name Margard is believed to be of French origin, stemming from the first name "Margard." It is derived from the Germanic root "marh," meaning "horse," and "gard," meaning "guard."
The surname is thought to be a name for a soldier or a watchman, referring to the protection of horses such as those of a noble family or a military unit. The meaning could also refer to one who was well known for tending or protecting horses, or to a family of horse breeders.
Over the centuries, the surname has spread throughout western Europe. In Scotland, it is recorded in sales of lands in the Highlands in the 17th century, and in France, it is known to be the first name of several abbots.
Today, people with the surname Margard are said to be hardworking, reliable, and organized. They enjoy planning and relish structure and order but can also be perfectionists, which can be both an asset and a detriment. They have a unique sense of determination and perseverance that will carry them from one project to the next.
Whether you are searching your family tree or looking to find out a bit more about the meaning and origin behind the surname Margard, it is clear that it is a notable name with a long and varied history.
Order DNA origin analysisMargard: Where does the name Margard come from?
The last name Margard is of German origin. It is most common today in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the surrounding countries. It dates back to a time when people began to adopt hereditary surnames as a way to identify themselves and their family.
The Margard surname is quite unusual in the United States. There are only around 1,350 bearers of the Margard surname living in the US today, according to the US Census Bureau’s records. This means that this last name is quite rare and makes it difficult to trace.
The name is popular in regions where immigrants with this surname have settled. This could include countries in South America such as Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico. The name has a long history in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and could have been brought to these countries when people immigrated from their home nations to the Americas.
Overall, the Margard surname is most common in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the regions around them. There are also smaller numbers of people with this surname living in the United States, as well as in various South American countries.
Variations of the surname Margard
The surname Margard can take several variants, spellings and forms including Margeard, Margerard, Mergard, Mergerard, Mergord, Mourgord, Mordgard, Morchard, Mortgard, or Murgard. Within France, Margard is a topographic surname primarily found in the department of Normandy. It stems from an Old French word meaning “border guard”. Therefore, these variants were created by those who left the original French form of the name when migrating to other European countries.
In Germany, the Margeard name is recorded from the 17th century, when it appeared in Pomerania, a historical region north of Brandenburg. During the 19th century, it was also found in Prussia and Silesia. The Margeard variants in Germany often changed to Mergord or Mordgard over time.
In Italy, the form of Margard became Mergard, Mergerard or Mourgord. These variants were mainly found in the regions of Aosta, Bolzano, and Trentino. During the 18th century, they also spread to the nearby Swiss Canton of Ticino.
In England and the Low Countries (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg), a large number of variants were recorded. The surnames Morchard, Mortgard and Murgard were mainly found in the Dutch provinces, while Mergord was mainly found in England.
In the United States, the surname Margard is rarely found. The variants spelled as Margeard and Mergard were the most common forms during the 18th and 19th centuries. It is likely those who went to the United States held on to the French forms of the name, rather than the German, Italian, Dutch or English variations.
Famous people with the name Margard
- Rachel Margard: profession: Actress
- Alfred Margard: profession: Physicist
- Alan Margard: profession: Weather scientist
- Inge Margard: profession: Artist & Activist
- Johannes Margard: profession: Physicist
- Susana Margard: profession: Actress
- Florian Margard: profession: Photographer
- Paul Margard: profession: Engineer
- Hjalmar Margard: profession: Philosopher
- Michel Margard: profession: Sculptor