William Wheater thought Gargrave to be derived the Celtic caer and the Saxon gerefa, meaning "the camp or city of the reeve/governor".
wˈɪljəm wˈiːɾɚ θˈɔːt ɡˈɑːɹɡɹeɪv təbi dᵻɹˈaɪvd ðə kˈɛltɪk kɛɹ ænd ðə sˈæksən dʒˈɛɹɛfə, mˈiːnɪŋ "ðə kˈæmp ɔːɹ sˈɪɾi ʌvðə ɹˈiːv slˈæʃ ɡˈʌvɚnɚ".