This interesting and unusual surname is of Old Gaelic origin, and is the Anglicized form of a Gaelic personal name originating from the Gaelic "garbh", rough, stout, brawny, originally a nickname given to someone who bore these characteristics. The name itself is found in both Scotland and Ireland, but appears to be more widespread and popular in the former country. One Donald Gerrow, along with the first recorded namebearer (see below), were tenants in Strathdee, Scotland, in 1527. Duncan Garro was fined for reset receiving or concealing stolen goods) of members of Clan Gregor in 1613, according to the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland. Other early examples found in Scottish and Irish Church Registers include: the marriage of Jhon Garrow and Janat Stewart on December 23rd 1628, at Kilmadock, Perthshire; the marriage of Jane Geragh and Christopher Dowdall on October 4th 1656, at St. Michen's, Dublin; the marriage of Helen Garrow and John Melvin in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, on January 21st 1759; and the marriage of Myra Garrow to Roger Green on December 8th 1846, at Monkstown, County Cork. The family Coat of Arms depicts on a blue shield a bend between a buck's head erased in chief and three crosses crosslet fitchee in base, all silver. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Johannes Garrow, which was dated 1527, in "The Chiefs of Grant", by Fraser, during the reign of King James V of Scotland, 1513 - 1542. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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