Gentry History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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England

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Early Origins of the Gentry family

The surname Gentry was first found in Hampshire, where they held a family seat since the Norman invasion of 1066. The name Gentry 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 Gentry family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gentry research. Another 35 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1202 and 1242 are included under the topic Early Gentry History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gentry Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Gentle, Gentles, Gentile, Jentle, Gentry and others.

Early Notables of the Gentry family

More information is included under the topic Early Gentry Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gentry Ranking

In the United States, the name Gentry is the 674^th most popular surname with an estimated 44,766 people with that name. 5

Gentry migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Gentry or a variant listed above were:

Gentry Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Nicholas Gentry, who arrived in Virginia in 1700 6

Gentry Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Elizabeth Gentry, who arrived in New York in 1862
Elizth Gentry, aged 16, who landed in New York in 1862 6
Mr. Arthur Gentry, aged 13, Scottish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cynosure" in 1863
Ada Gentry, aged 21, who landed in America from Woolwich, in 1892

Gentry Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Carrie H. Gentry, who immigrated to the United States, in 1903
Dorsey Gentry, who landed in America, in 1919
George Gentry, aged 0, who immigrated to the United States, in 1919
Edwin Gentry, aged 20, who settled in America, in 1920
Emily Gentry, aged 31, who landed in America, in 1922
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gentry migration to Australia +

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

Gentry Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Charles Gentry, English convict who was convicted in Chelmsford, Essex, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 4th October 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
Mr. Charles Gentry, English convict who was convicted in Chelmsford, Essex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the ""Blenheim"" on 24th July 1850, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) and Norfolk Island, Australia 8
Robert Gentry, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Hyderabad" 9

Gentry 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:

Gentry Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Charles Gentry, aged 26, a brickmaker, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mariner" in 1849
Mary Ann Gentry, aged 26, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mariner" in 1849

Contemporary Notables of the name Gentry (post 1700) +

Bobbie Gentry (b. 1944), stage name Roberta Lee Streeter, an American country singer, probably best known for her song Ode to Billie Joe (1967) and her 11 singles that reached the Billboard Hot 100
Curtis William "Curt" Gentry (1937-2022), American NFL football defensive back for the Chicago Bears (1966-1968)
Herbert Gentry (1919-2003), American Expressionist painter
Troy Gentry (1967-2017), American country music singer, co founder of Montgomery Gentry; he was killed in a helicopter crash
Minnie Gentry (1915-1993), born Minnie Lee Watson, an American actress, great grand mother of actor Terrence Howard
Robert V. Gentry (b. 1933), American nuclear physicist and young Earth creationist, member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
Robert Gentry (b. 1940), American actor, known for his role as Ed Bauer on Guiding Light
Loyd Gentry Jr. (b. 1925), American horse trainer, best known for training Proud Clarion to win the 1967 Kentucky Derby; he had 12 other major wins in his career
Curt Gentry (b. 1931), American writer, recipient of the Edgar Award (1975) from the Mystery Writers of America
Alwyn Howard Gentry (1945-1993), American botanist and plant collector
... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)