Gentile History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsEarly Origins of the Gentile familyThe surname Gentile was first found in Hampshire, where they held a family seat since the Norman invasion of 1066. The name Gentile comes from the Old French word "gent," meaning "well-born" or "noble." 1 2 It could be a literal name, referring to someone who actually was well-born, or it may have been an ironic nickname, for someone who put on airs of aristocracy. One of the oldest records of the family was found in Winmarleigh, a township in Lancashire with one of the older spellings used by the family. "In the reign of Henry III. lived a Gregory de Winnerlie or de Wimerlegh. In the 17th of Edward III., [(17th year of Edward III's reign)]Robert de Plesyngton received a fine from Thomas le Gentyll and his wife and son, for a moiety of the manor of Wynmerles." 3 Other early record of the family were found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273: William le Gentil in Yorkshire and Robert le Gentill, or Gentyl in Wiltshire. 1 John le Gentyl, was listed in Somerset during the first year of Edward III's reign 4 and in the 4th year of Edward II's reign William le Gentil was listed on the Patent Roll. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Agnes Gentildoghter and Johannes Gentill. 1 Early History of the Gentile familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gentile research. Another 35 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1202 and 1242 are included under the topic Early Gentile History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Gentile Spelling VariationsNorman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Gentle, Gentles, Gentile, Jentle, Gentry and others. Early Notables of the Gentile familyMore information is included under the topic Early Gentile Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Gentile RankingIn the United States, the name Gentile is the 2,902nd most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 5
Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Gentile or a variant listed above: Gentile Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Gentile Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
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