Show ContentsGentle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Gentle family

The surname Gentle was first found in Holland, where the name became noted for its many branches in the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. The name was first recorded in North Holland, a province of the Netherlands. The principal cities are Amsterdam, Haarlem and Hilversum. It was the seat of the old Counts of Holland. Seat of one of the oldest families is Brederode Castle near Haarlem. There are many old and quaint towns in the province. including Medemblik, Enkhuizen, Hoorn, Edam, and Monnikendam. In their later history the surname became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into this most influential family.

Early History of the Gentle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gentle research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1728 and 1784 are included under the topic Early Gentle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gentle Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gent, Gente, Gents, Gentt, Gentte, Gentts, Geent, Gennt, Genntt, Genttes, Geents, Gennts and many more.

Early Notables of the Gentle family

From this era of Dutch history, those of this who distinguished themselves included

  • Francis Gentleman (1728-1784), Irish actor and dramatist, born in York Street, Dublin, 13 Oct...

Gentle Ranking

In the United States, the name Gentle is the 10,354th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Gentle migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gentle Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Edward Gentle, who arrived in New York in 1777
Gentle Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Andrew Gentle, who settled in America in 1801
  • George Adam Gentle, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1802
  • William Gentle, aged 24, who arrived in New York in 1803 2
  • Andrew Gentle, who arrived in New York in 1812
  • Andrew Gentle, aged 35, who arrived in New York in 1812 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Gentle migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gentle Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • John Gentle, who settled in Ontario in 1871

Australia Gentle migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Gentle Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Peter Gentle, (b. 1830), aged 18, Scottish publican who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bangalore" on 1st January 1850, arriving in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia 3
  • Edward Gentle, aged 18, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Osceola" 4
  • William Gentle, aged 19, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Star Queen" 5
  • George Gentle, aged 6, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Star Queen" 5
  • James Gentle, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Star Queen" 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Gentle migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Gentle Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Alexander Gentle, aged 22, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duchess of Argyle" in 1842
  • Mr. Thomas Gentle (Gentles), (b. 1805), aged 42, Scottish settler born in Lanarkshire arriving as Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling aboard the ship "Sir Robert Sale" from Gravesend via Cork arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th October 1847 6
  • Peter Gentle, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Aloe" in 1863

Contemporary Notables of the name Gentle (post 1700) +

  • Alice Gentle (1885-1958), American operatic mezzo-soprano
  • James Cuthbert Gentle (1904-1986), American Olympic bronze medalist soccer striker, member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
  • Peter Gentle (b. 1965), Australian rugby league footballer of the 1980s
  • Johnny Gentle (b. 1936), stage name of John Askew, a British pop singer, best known for having briefly toured Scotland with the Silver Beetles - later known as The Beatles in 1960
  • Mary Rosalyn Gentle (b. 1956), British science fiction and fantasy author
  • Sir William Benjamin Gentle (1865-1948), English politician, High Sheriff of Norfolk, best known for fighting racecourse crime and was jointly responsible for promoting greyhound racing in the United Kingdom
  • Renee Gentle Powers, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Alabama, 2008 7


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/australasia
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) OSCEOLA / ASCEOLA 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Osceola-Asceola.htm
  5. South Australian Register Monday 1st January 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Star Queen 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/starqueen1854.shtml
  6. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 18) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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