Meaning & History. From an English surname which was derived from the given name GERALD or GERARD. A famous bearer of the surname was Pat Garrett (1850-1908), the sheriff who shot Billy the Kid.
Definition of avocational. 1  1 : of or relating to an avocation an avocational interest in sports. 2  2 : being such by avocation an avocational musician.
An avocation is something done in addition to oneâs vocationâusually a hobby. Both are rooted in the Latin vocÄre, meaning to call. In its early English use, vocation usually had religious implications. One who had a vocation was called by God toward a certain line of work, often the priesthood. The word was in use without the religious overtones as early as the 16th century, and today it is commonly used for both religious callings and secular ones. In avocation, the prefix a- is shortened from ab-, which means away, so, considered etymologically, an avocation is a calling away.