Gentry is an English surname that originated as a Norman French name, Gentile. The Normans were the people who conquered England in 1066 and brought with them many French influences, including their own names.
The meaning of Gentry is "noble" or "well-born," which reflects the high social status of those who bore this surname. It originally referred to a person of gentle birth or noble rank, such as a member of the gentry class in England during the Middle Ages.
The history of the name Gentry can be traced back to the 13th century when it was first recorded in England. Over time, it has evolved into various spelling variations including Gentrie, Gentrye, Gentri, and Gentrey, among others.
Today, Gentry is used both as a surname and given name for boys. While its popularity peaked in the late 1980s and early 1990s when it was often used as a middle name, it remains relatively uncommon compared to other names.
In summary, Gentry is an English surname of Norman French origin that means "noble" or "well-born." It has been used as both a surname and given name for boys since the Middle Ages and is still recognized today.
The name Gentry has a long history of being used in the United States, with the first recorded birth occurring in 1884 and the most recent in 2023.
Over this period of time, there have been a total of 4092 births registered for individuals named Gentry. The number of births per year has varied significantly over the years, with peaks and troughs that can be attributed to various factors such as shifting trends in naming practices, fluctuations in population size, and other sociocultural influences.
In the early 20th century, the name Gentry experienced several periods of popularity, with notable spikes occurring in the years 1918 (26 births) and 1957 (23 births). However, it was not until the late 1990s and early 2000s that the name began to see consistently high numbers of births each year. Since 2001, there have been at least 44 births per year for individuals named Gentry, with several years exceeding 100 births.
The most recent data available shows that in 2023, there were 129 births registered for individuals named Gentry. This continues a trend of relatively high numbers of births for the name, indicating that Gentry remains a popular choice among parents in the United States today.
Overall, these statistics demonstrate the enduring popularity of the name Gentry over more than a century and provide insight into how its usage has evolved over time.