Garcia, Gartzia or García is an Iberian surname common throughout Spain, Portugal, Galicia, Andorra, the Americas, France and the Philippines. It is a surname of patronymic origin; García was a very common first name in early medieval Iberia.
Contents
Origins
It may have been a Basque surname "Gaztea" which later was Castilianized in the medieval Kingdom of Castile to become "García".
It is attested since the High Middle Ages north and south of the Pyrenees (Basque Culture Territories), with the surname (and sometimes first name too) thriving, especially in the Kingdom of Navarre, and spreading out to Castile and other Spanish regions.
Alfonso Irigoyen believed it to derive from the Basque adjective garze(a) meaning "young", whose modern form is gaztea or gaztia. Ramón Menéndez Pidal and Antonio Tovar suggested it may come from the Basque word (H)artz, meaning "(the) Bear". A third etymology suggests it may derive from the Basque words "Gazte Hartz", meaning "(the) young bear". Variant forms of the name include Garcicea, Gartzi, Gartzia, Gartze, Garsea, and Gastea. The original Basque form with an affricate sibilant (/ts/, Basque spelling tz) evolved in Spanish to the current form.
There are Gasconic cognates of Garcia like Gassie and Gassion (Béarn, Gassio 14th century, real name of Edith Piaf, born Edith Gassion).
Other theories suggest that García is of Germanic origin and may derive from wars meaning young warrior or the Visigothic words garxa and garcha meaning graceful prince.
Popularity
García is the most common surname in Spain (where 3.32% of the population is named García) and also the second most common surname in Mexico.
In the 1990 United States Census, Garcia was the 18th most reported surname, accounting for 0.25% of the population. It has become more common since then, jumping to eighth place in 2000.
Garcia was quite rare before the First World War in France, except in the French Pays Basque, but became the 14th most common surname in France (and the eighth for the number of births between 1966 and 1990) due to Spanish immigration. It ranked second in the region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur for the number of births 1966–1990.
Geographical distribution
As of 2014, 33.2% of all known bearers of the surname García were residents of Mexico (frequency 1:35), 14.1% of Spain (1:31), 8.4% of the United States (1:402), 6.0% of Colombia (1:74), 4.6% of Venezuela (1:62), 4.4% of Brazil (1:435), 4.1% of the Philippines (1:230), 3.9% of Guatemala (1:39), 3.0% of Argentina (1:134), 2.8% of Cuba (1:38), 2.8% of Peru (1:105), 1.8% of Ecuador (1:83), 1.7% of Honduras (1:48), 1.5% of the Dominican Republic (1:64), 1.4% of Nicaragua (1:41), 1.2% of El Salvador (1:47) and 1.1% of France (1:576).
In Spain, the frequency of the surname was higher than average (1:31) in the following regions:
Asturias (1:16)
Castile and León (1:20)
Region of Murcia (1:22)
Castilla–La Mancha (1:24)
Andalusia (1:29)
Community of Madrid (1:29)
Cantabria (1:29)
Canary Islands (1:30)
In Mexico, the frequency of the surname was higher than average (1:35) in the following states:
Oaxaca (1:22)
Tabasco (1:27)
Michoacán (1:28)
Guerrero (1:30)
Tamaulipas (1:30)
State of Mexico (1:31)
Coahuila (1:32)
Veracruz (1:33)
Notable people
A
Aaron Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
Adam Garcia (born 1973), Australian actor
Adolis García (born 1993), Cuban baseball player
Adrián García (disambiguation)
Aimee Garcia (born 1978), Mexican American actress
Aimeé García Marrero (born 1972), Cuban painter and mixed media artist
Akeem Garcia (born 1996), Trinidadian footballer
Alan García (disambiguation)
Alejandro García (disambiguation), multiple people
Alesia Garcia (born 2000), American soccer player
Alex Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
Alfredo García (disambiguation)
Alley Garcia (died 2012), Belizean shooting victim
Amadeo García (1887–1947), Spanish football manager
Ana García (disambiguation)
Anastasio Somoza García (1896–1956), President of Nicaragua
Andrés García (disambiguation)
Anier García (born 1976), Cuban athlete in the 2000 Summer Olympics
Antonio García (disambiguation), multiple people
B
Bartolomé García del Nodal (1574–1622), Spanish explorer
Bebel García García (1914–1936), Spanish footballer and politician
Benjamin Garcia (disambiguation)
Bianca Garcia, member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
Boniek García (born 1984), Honduran footballer
Bonnie Garcia, Representative of California's 80th Assembly District
Brenna Garcia (born 2004), Filipina child actress
Brie Garcia (born 1983) American twin pro-wrestler known as Brie Bella
Borja García (disambiguation), several people
Bruno Garcia (disambiguation), several people
Bryan Garcia (disambiguation), several people
C
Calixto García (1839–1898), Cuban military leader
Caloy Garcia (born 1975), Filipino basketball coach
Cancio Garcia (1937–2013), Filipino lawyer and judge
Candelario Garcia (1944–2013), United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
Carlos Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
Carmelo Garcia, American politician from New Jersey
Carmen García (disambiguation)
Caroline Garcia (born 1993), French professional tennis player
Cecilia García (disambiguation)
Cédric Garcia (born 1982), French-Spanish rugby player
Ceferino Garcia (1912–1981), Filipino boxer
Charles García (born 1988), American-born Belizean basketball player
Charles Patrick Garcia (born 1961), Panamanian-American author, Hispanic leader, businessman
Christian García (disambiguation)
Clotilde García Borrero (1887–1969), Colombian suffragist, writer
Coleen Garcia (born 1992), Filipina actress, host and model
Concha García (disambiguation)
Cosme García Sáez (1818–1874), Spanish inventor
D
Dámaso García (1957–2020), Dominican baseball player
Danay Garcia, Cuban actress
Daniel García (disambiguation), multiple people
Danna García (born 1978), Colombian actress and singer
Dante Garcia (born 1971), Filipino politician
Daryanne Lees Garcia (born 1986), Cuban-Puerto Rican model and beauty queen
David Garcia (disambiguation)
Dean Garcia, British studio musician, former member of rock band Curve
Dermis García (born 1998), Dominican baseball player
Destra Garcia (born 1978), Trinidadian soca singer
Diana Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
Diego Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
Dolores García (disambiguation)
Domingo García (disambiguation)
Dora García (born 1965), Spanish artist
E
Eddie Garcia (1929–2019), Filipino film actor and director
Edgar García (disambiguation)
Eduardo García (disambiguation)
Elijah Garcia (born 1998), American football player
Eric Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
Erica Garcia (born 1978), Argentine musician and actress
Ernesto García (1884–1955), Mexican soldier and politician
Esmeralda de Jesus Garcia (born 1959), Brazilian track and field athlete
Esperança Garcia (born c. 1751), an enslaved Afro-Brazilian and likely Creole woman in Brazil
Esperanza García (1975–2025), Spanish lawyer and politician
Esther García, Spanish film producer and production supervisor
Esther Herranz García (born 1969), Spanish politician, Member of the European Parliament
Esteban Garcia (born 1984), Argentine footballer
F
Federico García (disambiguation)
Felipe Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
Fernando García (disambiguation), multiple people
Francesca Marie Velasco Garcia (born 1980), Filipino actress
Francisco García (disambiguation), multiple people
Frank Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
Franklin Garcia (born 1969), American politician
Franklin García Fermín (born 1957), Dominican jurist and professor
Freddy García (disambiguation), multiple people
G
Gabriel García (disambiguation), multiple people
Gael García Bernal (born 1978), Mexican actor
Gary Garcia, half of the musical duo Buckner & Garcia
Gastón García (born Darío Osvaldo Gastón García Aguilar in 1968), Argentine Olympic judoka
Gazzy Garcia (born 2000), American rapper known professionally as Lil Pump
Genaro García (boxer) (1977–2013), Mexican boxer
Gilberto García (disambiguation), multiple people
Gildardo García (1954–2021), Colombian chess player
St. Gonsalo Garcia (1556–1597), Portuguese-Indian Roman Catholic saint
Gonzalo Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
Guillermo Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
Gustavo García (disambiguation)
Gwendolyn Garcia (born 1955), Filipino politician, governor of Cebu from 2004 to 2013, and since 2019
H
Héctor García (disambiguation), multiple people
Herminio Díaz García, Cuban exile
Humberto García (disambiguation), multiple people
I
Ibn Gharsiya, Andalusi writer
Iolanda García Sàez, Spanish ski mountaineer
Inez García (1941–2003), American feminist
Iratxe García, Spanish politician, Member of the European Parliament
Isaac García (born 1968), Mexican long-distance runner
Isabela Garcia (born 1967), Brazilian actress
Israel García (disambiguation)
Iván García (disambiguation), multiple people
J
Jacalyn Lopez Garcia (born 1953), American artist
Jacques Garcia, French designer
Jaime García (disambiguation), multiple people
Jake Garcia, American racing driver
Jarlin García (born 1993), Dominican baseball player
Jarren Garcia (born 2006), Filipino-British model
Jason Garcia, American professional baseball player
Javier García (disambiguation), multiple people
Jean Garcia, Filipino telenovela actress
Jean-Louis Garcia (born 1962), French soccer player
Jeff Garcia (born 1970), NFL and former Canadian football player of Irish and Mexican descent
Jeff Garcia (comedian) (1975–2025), American actor and stand-up comedian
Jennica Garcia, Filipino actress
Jerry Garcia (1942–1995), American rock-and-roll musician (Grateful Dead)
Jessica García (disambiguation)
Jesús García (disambiguation), multiple people
JoAnna Garcia (born 1979), American actress
Joaquín García (disambiguation), multiple people
K
Kathryn Garcia (born 1970), Commissioner of the New York City Sanitation Department
Kilmar Abrego Garcia (born 1995), citizen of El Salvador illegally deported from the United States
Kyla Garcia, American actress
L
Léa Garcia (1933–2023), Brazilian actress
Leury García (born 1991), Dominican baseball player
Levi Garcia (born 1997), Trinidadian football player
Lidia García (born 1989), Spanish researcher, activist, and podcaster
Lilian Garcia (born 1966), Spanish-American singer and former WWE ring announcer
Luis García (disambiguation), multiple people
M
Maikel García (born 2000), Venezuelan baseball player
Mannie Garcia, American freelance photojournalist
Manolo García, Spanish singer and painter
Manolo García (make-up artist), Spanish make-up artist
Manuel García (disambiguation), multiple people
Marcario Garcia (1920–1972), Mexican-born United States Medal of Honor winner
Marcela Bovio García (born 1979), Mexican singer, lead vocalist of the metal band Stream of Passion
Marcelo García (disambiguation), multiple people
Márcio Garcia (born 1970), Brazilian actor, television host, writer, producer and film director
Maria Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
Marilinda Garcia, member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
Marina García (disambiguation)
Marta García (disambiguation), multiple people
Martín García (disambiguation), multiple people
Mateo García de los Reyes (1872–1936), Spanish admiral and minister of the navy, organizer and first chief of the Spanish Navy Submarine Force
Mauricio Garcia (1989–2023), American mass shooter
N
Natalie Garcia (disambiguation)
Néstor García (disambiguation), multiple people
Nieves García Vicente (born 1955), Spanish chess master
Nick Garcia (born 1979), Mexican American soccer player
Nicole Garcia (disambiguation)
Nina García (born 1967), Colombian fashion journalist and critic
Nubya Garcia (born 1991), British jazz saxophonist, composer and bandleader
O
Odalys Garcia (born 1975), Cuban-American actress and television show host
Oscar García (disambiguation)
Oskar Matute García de Jalón (born 1972), Basque politician
Orlando Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
P
Pablo Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
Paloma García (disambiguation)
Patricia García (disambiguation)
Patrick Garcia (born 1981), Filipino actor
Pedro Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
Pete Garcia, athletic director of Florida International University
Pierre Garcia (1943–2023), French football player and manager
Pierre-Emmanuel Garcia (born 1983), French rugby player
Pilar García (disambiguation), multiple people
R
Radamel García (1957–2019), Colombian footballer
Rafael García (disambiguation), multiple people
Ramón García (disambiguation), multiple people
Raúl García (disambiguation), multiple people
Rebecca Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
Renaud Garcia-Fons (born 1962), French upright-bass player and composer
Ricardo Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
Richard Garcia (born 1981), Australian soccer player
Richard Garcia (shooting victim) (died 2017), Belizean villager
Rick Garcia, American politician
Rick Garcia (activist) (1956–2026), American LGBTQ rights activist
Rico Garcia (born 1994), American baseball player
Robel García (born 1993), Dominican baseball player
Robert Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
Roberto García (disambiguation), multiple people
Rodrigo García (disambiguation), multiple people
Rómulo García (1927–2005), Archbishop of Bahía Blanca, Argentina
Rony García (born 1997), Dominican baseball player
S
Salvador García (disambiguation), multiple people
Sara García (disambiguation)
Saúl García (disambiguation), multiple people
Sergent Garcia, stage name of Bruno Garcia (born 1964), French solo artist
Sergio García (disambiguation)
Stéphane Garcia (born 1991), Swiss footballer
Stephanie Garcia (born 1988), American athlete
Sylvia Garcia (born 1950), U.S. Representative from Texas
T
Tanya Garcia (disambiguation)
Thea Garcia-Ramirez, Belizean women's rights activist and politician
Tony Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
V
Valerie Pablo Garcia-Birchmore (born 1987), Filipino actress
Vanessa García (born 1984), Puerto Rican freestyle swimmer
Victor Garcia (disambiguation), multiple people
Vincent Garcia (disambiguation)
W
Willis García (born 1970), Venezuelan judoka
Winston Garcia (born 1958), Filipino politician and lawyer
X
Xavier García (disambiguation), multiple people
Y
Yimi García (born 1990), Dominican baseball player
Ylona Garcia (born 2002), Filipino-Australian actress, singer, and model
Yohan García (born 1982), Cuban swimmer
Yordanis García (born 1988), Cuban decathlete
Yusmely García (born 1983), Venezuelan hurdler
Fictional characters
Isabella Garcia-Shapiro in Phineas and Ferb
Juan García Cortes, in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Penelope Garcia in the crime drama Criminal Minds
Robert Garcia, in the Art of Fighting and King of Fighters video game series
Sergeant García, from Johnston McCulley's Zorro franchise
Antonio Garcia, in the television show Power Rangers: Samurai
Dr. Che Garcia, the main antagonist in the video game Last Alert
Dr. Yolanda Garcia, in the television show The Pitt