I to am from the north east but hartlepool not south shields my name is martin garbutt son of geoffrey and laraine garbutt both born in the 60's and grandson of lonni garbutt whos sadly not long past, my father was one of 9 children and from speaking with him the garbutt family have a lot of history in the north east both good and bad, speaking to an old historian on a course i took he asked if i new where my name came from i said yes old german royalty to which he said yes but which side of the royals, i had no idea so asked and his reply was not the good side you were pushed out of germany hence why most people with your surname are from the north of england because thats where they went to once leaving germany.