García (surname) facts for kids

Garcia or García is a common family name found in the Iberian Peninsula (which includes Spain and Portugal) and many other places around the world. These places include Andorra, the Americas, and the Philippines. The name García comes from a very popular first name used in early medieval times in the Iberian Peninsula. This means it's a patronymic surname, given to someone as "son of García."

Where Does the Name García Come From?

The name García might have come from the Basque language. Some experts believe it comes from the Basque word "Gaztea," which means "young." Over time, this Basque name was changed into the Spanish form "García" in the medieval Kingdom of Castile.

The name García has been around since the High Middle Ages (a period from about 1000 to 1300 AD). It was popular both north and south of the Pyrenees mountains, especially in the Kingdom of Navarre. From there, it spread to Castile and other parts of Spain.

Other ideas about the name's origin include:

• From the Basque word (H)artz, meaning "(the) Bear".
• From the Basque words "Gazte Hartz", meaning "(the) young bear".
• From Germanic words like wars, meaning "young warrior".
• From Visigothic words garxa and garcha, meaning "graceful prince".

Some similar names to García are Garcicea, Gartzi, Gartzia, Gartze, Garsea, and Gastea. You can also find names like Gassie and Gassion in the Gascon dialect of France, which are related to García.

How Common is the García Name?

Most common surname in Spain by province of residence

García is a very common surname. It is the most common family name in Spain! About 3.32% of people in Spain have the surname García. It is also the second most common surname in Mexico.

In the United States, the name García has become much more common over the years. In 1990, it was the 18th most reported surname. By 2000, it had jumped to the 8th most common surname.

In France, the name García was not very common before the First World War. However, it became the 14th most common surname in France due to many people moving there from Spain.

Where in the World Do You Find Many Garcías?

The surname García is found all over the world, especially in countries that speak Spanish or Portuguese. As of 2014, the most people with the surname García lived in:

• Mexico (about 33.2% of all Garcías)
• Spain (about 14.1%)
• United States (about 8.4%)
• Colombia (about 6.0%)
• Venezuela (about 4.6%)
• Brazil (about 4.4%)
• Philippines (about 4.1%)

In Spain, the name García is especially common in regions like Asturias, Castile and León, and Region of Murcia. In Mexico, it's very common in states such as Oaxaca, Tabasco, and Michoacán.

Famous People Named García

Actors and Entertainers

• Adam Garcia (born 1973), an Australian actor and dancer.
• Aimee Garcia (born 1978), a Mexican American actress.
• Andrés García (1941–2023), a famous Mexican actor.
• Andy García (born 1956), a Cuban American actor known for many movies.
• Bangs Garcia (born 1987), a Filipino actress.
• Charly García (born 1951), a very famous Argentine musician.
• Coleen Garcia (born 1992), a Filipino actress and host.
• Danna García (born 1978), a Colombian actress and singer.
• Destra Garcia (born 1978), a Trinidadian soca singer.
• Eddie Garcia (1929–2019), a legendary Filipino film actor and director.
• Gael García Bernal (born 1978), a well-known Mexican actor.
• Jerry Garcia (1942–1995), a famous American rock musician from the band Grateful Dead.
• JoAnna Garcia (born 1979), an American actress.
• Jorge Garcia (born 1979), a Hispanic American actor.
• Joshua Garcia (born 1997), a Filipino actor and dancer.
• Léa Garcia (born 1933), a Brazilian actress.
• Lilian Garcia (born 1966), a Spanish-American singer.
• Melani García (born 2007), a young Spanish classical singer.
• Nina García (born 1967), a Colombian fashion journalist.
• Sara García (1895–1980), a beloved Mexican actress.
• Ylona Garcia (born 2002), a Filipino-Australian actress and singer.

Sports Stars

• Adolis García (born 1993), a Cuban baseball player.
• Anier García (born 1976), a Cuban athlete who competed in the Olympics.
• Avisaíl García (born 1991), a Venezuelan baseball player.
• Boniek García (born 1984), a Honduran football (soccer) player.
• Caroline Garcia (born 1993), a French professional tennis player.
• Ceferino Garcia (1912–1981), a Filipino boxer.
• Freddy García (born 1976), a Venezuelan-American baseball player.
• Jaime García (born 1986), a Mexican baseball player.
• Jeff Garcia (born 1970), a former NFL (American football) player.
• Luis García, a name shared by several football (soccer) players.
• Radamel Falcao García (born 1986), a famous Colombian football (soccer) player.
• Richard Garcia (born 1981), an Australian soccer player.
• Rudi Garcia (born 1964), a French football manager.
• Ryan Garcia (born 1998), an American boxer.
• Sergio García (born 1980), a Spanish golfer.
• Sunny Garcia (born 1970), a Hawaiian surfer.

Other Notable People

• Alan García (1949–2019), a politician who was President of Peru twice.
• Anastasio Somoza García (1896–1956), a former President of Nicaragua.
• Calixto García (1839–1898), a Cuban military leader.
• Candelario Garcia (1944–2013), a United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor.
• Chuy García (born 1956), a U.S. Representative from Illinois.
• Federico García Lorca (1898–1936), a famous Spanish poet and writer.
• Gwendolyn Garcia (born 1955), a Filipino politician and governor.
• Jesús García (1881–1907), a Mexican railroad worker and national hero.
• Joaquín "Jack" García (born 1952), a Cuban-American FBI agent.
• Kathryn Garcia (born 1970), a New York City official.
• Marcario Garcia (1920–1972), a Mexican-born United States Medal of Honor winner.
• Sylvia Garcia (born 1950), a U.S. Representative from Texas.

Fictional Characters Named García

• Isabella Garcia-Shapiro from the cartoon Phineas and Ferb.
• Penelope Garcia from the crime drama Criminal Minds.
• Robert Garcia from the Art of Fighting video game series.
• Sergeant García from the Zorro stories.
• Antonio Garcia from the television show Power Rangers: Samurai.

Images for kids

• 

  Most common surname in Spain by province of residence

See also

In Spanish: García para niños

• García (disambiguation)
• Garzia (name)