Garrison surname meaning

Garrison is commonly explained as a shortened English form of Gerardson, a patronymic from the personal name Gerard. The surname also overlaps with Dutch Gerritsen and Americanized Jewish Gerson or Gershon forms, so identical modern spellings do not prove one migration history. Gerard and its Germanic elements traditionally carry a spear-and-bravery interpretation, but that older gloss belongs to the personal name. Because the surname-level patronymic route is direct and documented, the catalog uses parent’s name with high confidence. The modern spelling masks these related patronymic formations.