Akademik

Gerald m

English and Irish: of Germanic origin, composed of the elements gār, gēr spear + wald rule. The name was introduced to Britain by the Normans, but soon became confused with GERARD (SEE Gerard). It died out in England at the end of the 13th century. However, it continued in Ireland, where it had been brought in the 12th century, at the time of Strongbow's invasion, principally by Maurice Fitzgerald, ‘son of Gerald’. The name was revived in England in the 19th century, along with several other long-extinct names of Germanic and Celtic origin, and is now more common than GERARD (SEE Gerard), which survived all along as an English ‘gentry’ name.

Cognates: Irish Gaelic: Gearóid, Gearalt. Welsh: Gerallt. Dutch: Gerolt. German: Gerhold. Italian: Giraldo. French: Gérald, Géraud.

Short form: English: Ged.

Pet forms: English: Gerry, Jerry.