Origin of the surname Gentry

This very unusual surname has long been a source of puzzlement to researchers, and it is not recorded in any of the usual dictionaries of surnames. It is almost certainly French in origin, like the surname 'Gentle' deriving from the old French 'gentil', a word introduced by the Normans after the 1066 invasion, and meaning 'high born'. It has been recorded at various times as Jentry, Jendry, Gentery, Gentry, Gentiry and Guntrey, and in France as Gentil, Gentreau, and Gentric, the latter being very close in both spelling and pronunciation to the English forms.

Although unproven it may be that there are some 16th century Huguenot introductions. Early examples of the name suggest that it was descriptive and not a nickname, Nicholas and William 'Gentilman', who are so recorded in the 1273 Hundred Rolls of Bedford, presumably being land owners or at least land holders, suggest that this is a correct description. John le Gentil recorded in the 1242 rolls of Warwick, was recorded for non payment of fines, so perhaps in his case it was a cynical nickname, or perhaps he was a 'gentle soul' who just forgot. As Gentry and Jentry the surname is well recorded in London from the mid 17th century. Whether this is a dialectal change applying initially only to London is uncertain. The church registers give examples which include Richard Jendry, who married Mary Hassaway (certainly a transposed spelling) at St James Church, Dukes Place, on April 16th 1666, John Gentry, a witness at St Peters Church, Cornhill, on February 29th 1684, and John Guntrey, a witness at St Dunstans in the East, Stepney, on March 15th 1689. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Osbert le Gentil, which was dated 1202 a.d., in the pipe rolls of Hampshire, during the reign of King John, known as 'Lackland', 1199 - 1216. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

The surname Gentry. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

Discovering the historical roots of gentry is deeply interesting, as it takes us back to the ancestors and relatives who established this lineage. The history of the surname gentry is, like that of most surnames, a complex and fascinating journey to ancient times with the aim of unraveling the origin of gentry. Research into the possible origins of gentry leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname gentry is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname gentry, and in addition to the original locations of gentry, we can find out where people with the surname gentry can currently be found.

The surname Gentry around the world

Although surnames have a specific origin at a certain time and region of the planet, many of them have spread far and wide across the world for various reasons, as is the case with the surname gentry. It is common for surnames like gentry to become known in places far removed from their country or region of origin. Discover which ones. There is a considerable probability that gentry has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where gentry is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname gentry provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations. The mobility of people carrying the surname gentry has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.

History of Gentry

The historical chronicle of gentry is based on a striking series of events that were led by those who have carried this surname throughout history. The historical journey of the surname gentry can be traced back to those who were the first bearers of gentry. The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named gentry are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname gentry, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of gentry developed. The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname gentry are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective.

We suggest that if you want to learn more about the surname gentry, try to locate it through the bibliographic sources we suggest. You can visit us regularly to get more information about the origin of the surname gentry, as we frequently accept significant contributions from other individuals interested in heraldry and the history of surnames. It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of gentry could be modified. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about gentry and send it to us, we will update it on this website. Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname gentry or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of gentry.

Notable Figures Named Gentry

It's more than likely that there have been some distinguished gentrys throughout human history. Unfortunately, it's highly probable that not all gentrys who performed notable deeds have been included in historical chronicles and records. We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname gentry, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname gentry were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. A surname like gentry can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames.

The surname Gentry and its bibliographic sources

Thanks to a significant bibliographic review, we have so far compiled information on the heraldry, history, and genealogy of gentry. It goes without saying that consulting bibliographic and documentary sources is essential when accessing information about the origins of the surname gentry. The bibliography collects information related to the surname gentry, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of gentry are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname gentry, as well as many other surnames.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of gentry, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Gentry