GERALD
Gerald
Origin and Meaning The surname Gerald is of Old Germanic origin, derived from the personal name "Gerald", which consists of the elements "ger", meaning "spear" and "wald", meaning "rule". The name was introduced to England by the Normans after the Conquest of 1066.
Distribution The surname Gerald is relatively rare in Britain compared to other surnames. It is more commonly found in regions that have historical ties to Norman influence, such as the southern parts of England.
Notable Individuals
- Edward Gerald (1798–1854) – English poet and playwright known for his works during the Romantic period.
- Anna Gerald (1920–2003) – British biologist and environmental activist who made significant contributions to the field of marine conservation.
- Sir Charles Gerald (1901–1978) – British diplomat who served as the Ambassador to several countries during his diplomatic career.
Coat of Arms The coat of arms associated with the surname Gerald typically features symbols such as a spear or an oak tree, reflecting the origins and meaning of the name.
Variants Variants of the surname Gerald include FitzGerald, Garrad, Garrard, and Jerrold.
There are approximately 505 people named Gerald in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around eight in a million people in Britain are named Gerald.
Surname type: From given name or forename
Region of origin: Europe
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Anthony
- David
- James
- John
- Joseph
- Kane
- Lloyd
- Nigel
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
- Thomas
Female
- Diana
- Frances
- Gwendoline
- Jacinta
- Jacqueline
- Jade
- Kathleen
- Katie
- Lolita
- Marie
- Mary
- Natalie
- Sarah
- Yvette
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.