Garrison

Garrison is an English surname traditionally explained as son of Garret. Garret itself belongs to the Gerard and Gerald name families, so the deeper meaning depends on the particular route. The family-name history is separate from the ordinary English word garrison, which describes troops stationed in a place.

Writer and broadcaster Garrison Keillor, born Gary, provides a well-known example of Garrison adopted as a personal name. Its three-syllable form is longer than Gary but keeps a familiar opening sound. Families may choose it as an inherited surname, for a literary association, or for the sound of the full name. The military word can be a secondary association without replacing the older patronymic explanation.