Gerard Name Study

Profile manager: Michelle Hartley [send private message]

This is a One Name Study to collect information about the surname Gerard and its variants. Project leader Gerard-337

Please post any questions to the discussion board.

• Resources

• Sources

Please add the project template to Gerard profiles. {{One Name Study|name=Gerard}}

Similar surnames: Gerald, Guerard, Herard, Gerhardt, Garard, Gerardi, Berard, Geary

The rich and ancient history of the Gerard family name dates back to the time of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It comes from the son of Gerard. The surname Gerard was originally derived from the Old German Gerhard which meant spear-brave. In Old English, patronyms were formed by adding a variety of suffixes to personal names, which changed over time and from place to place. For example, after the Norman Conquest, sunu and sune, which meant son, were the most common patronymic suffixes. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the most common patronymic names included the word filius, which meant son. By the 14th century, the suffix son had replaced these earlier versions. Surnames that were formed with filius or son were more common in the north of England and it was here that the number of individuals without surnames was greatest at this time.

Early Origins

The surname Gerard was first found in Lancashire where they held a family seat from very ancient times. The Gerrard family name, also spelled Gerard and Jarrard, is traced by historians to the grandson of Edward the Confessor (1004-1066). In England the name was first recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086. Gerard (died 21 May 1108), was Lord Chancellor of England (1085-1092) appointed by William I, and later Archbishop of York (1100-1108.) He may have been with the king's hunting party when William II was killed, as he witnessed the first charter issued by the new king, Henry I of England, a few days later. Windle with Hardshaw in Lancashire was home to the family in later years. "In the reign of Edward III., the manor was held under William Boteler by Peter de Burnhull, with whose heiress the Gerards acquired the property; and this latter family are the present lords. Windle Hall belongs to Sir John Gerard, Bart., at whose annual court lord the manor of Windle, officers are chosen for the township."^[1]

Surname Information

• Surnamedb.com
• Name Origins

Surname Variations

Garrett

Garard

Garrard

Garredd

Gerald (English)

Gerard (most common spelling today)

Gerardet (France)

Gerardi

Gerrard

Ghiraldi (Italy)

Girote

Giraud

Jared

Jarrard

Jarrett

Jarret

Jarrett & many others.