Garland means a great deal of things, growing up the family definition was consistently, “of the battlefield.” Garland is Celtic as well, even Norman (n. French), and Welsh. Gaer-land is olde English for gaer (triangle) and land (land) (…which is actually referring to a place in Devonshire).

While viewing the Book of Kells in Dublin, next to it was a book called The Garland of Howth. ‘Garland’ caught my attention so I read the description of that 8th Century book. “…’Garland’ is the medieval Dublin rendering of ‘veithre leabhair’ which is Irish for ‘the four books’ [of the gospel].”

Garlands have been found in Scotland since the Pictish (mostly mid-Scotland/present-day Perthshire/Murray Clanlands). Garland has been linked to Lyon which is Celtic in origin and further associated with Clan Lamont and Clan Farquarson. Garland is also first found in Perthshire county of Perth and Kinross in the Gaelic form of “Siorraghd Pheairt”. Since this location appears to be in or near Murray Clan lands it would seem likely Garland would be affiliated with Murray .

I contacted the Murray clan and the clan genealogist sent this, “I believe the Scotclans website is a sound source of information for the clans and septs.  I spoke to the Family research centre personnel.  Scotclans confirms that Garland is a sept within the Murray Clan.  Welcome!”

My direct descendants were born in Fife and claim Scotland as their birth place on US Census sheets. They were married in Dublin a few months before their first child was born, then came in via Canada had another child, then down into Minnesota, where our grandfather was born (grandpa ken’s dad) (and youngest uncle as well).

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• Frame Family Verbal History “Digging Ditches“
• Rice Family Verbal History “A Grain of Rice“