Gerrity History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of Gerrity

What does the name Gerrity mean?

The Irish name Gerrity was originally written in a Gaelic form as Mag Oireachtaigh, which is derived from the word "oireachtach," referring to a member of an assembly. Translating the name into English produces no less than seventeen different synonyms. But the origin of the name is most intriguing. In the 12th century, the name was simply Ó Roduibh but a Oireachtach Ó Roduibh at that time caused the name to be shortened to Oireachtach, their present form. 1

Early Origins of the Gerrity family

The surname Gerrity was first found in counties Roscommon and Galway (Irish: Gaillimh) part of the province of Connacht, located on the west coast of the Island, where they were one of the Hi Maine Septs in Kelly's country. They were direct descendants of the O'Connors, Kings of Connacht, and the Chief of the Clann was one of the four royal chiefs under the O'Connor. (O'Hart) The tree on the Coat of Arms illustrates their descendancy from the O'Connors.

Early History of the Gerrity family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gerrity research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1585, 1598 and 1744 are included under the topic Early Gerrity History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gerrity Spelling Variations

Before widespread literacy came to Ireland, a name was often recorded under several different variations during the life of its bearer. Accordingly, numerous spelling variations were revealed in the search for the origin of the name Gerrity family name. Variations found include Gerrity, Gerty, Gerighty, Gerighaty, Gerety, Gerahty, Garraty, Geraty, Jerety, McGerity, MacGeraghty, MacGartie, MacGarty and many more.

Early Notables of the Gerrity family

Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gerrity Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gerrity Ranking

In the United States, the name Gerrity is the 18,213^rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2

Gerrity migration to the United States +

A massive amount of Ireland's native population left the island in the 19th century for North America and Australia in hopes of finding more opportunities and an escape from discrimination and oppression. A great portion of these migrants arrived on the eastern shores of the North American continent. Although they were generally poor and destitute, and, therefore, again discriminated against, these Irish people were heartily welcomed for the hard labor involved in the construction of railroads, canals, roadways, and buildings. Many others were put to work in the newly established factories or agricultural projects that were so essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest nations in the world. The Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s initiated the largest wave of Iris immigration. Early North American immigration and passenger lists have revealed a number of people bearing the name Gerrity or a variant listed above:

Gerrity Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Philip Gerrity, aged 24, who arrived in New York in 1639 3

Gerrity Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Bridgt Gerrity, aged 18, Irish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Middlesex" in 1810 4
Owen Gerrity, aged 21, Irish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Dublin Packet" in 1827 4
Jas Gerrity, aged 25, Irish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Sapeil" in 1840 4
Mary Gerrity, aged 18, Irish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Martha" in 1844 4
Jno Gerrity, aged 13, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Acadea" in 1847 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Gerrity (post 1700) +

Thomas P. Gerrity, former dean and professor at the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania
General Thomas Patrick Gerrity (1913-1968), United States Air Force general, Commander of the Air Force Logistics Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

Sources +

MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result