Meaning and Origin
What does the name Gentry mean? Keep reading to find the user submitted meanings, dictionary definitions, and more.
Origin and Meaning of Gentry
User Submitted Origins
English
64%
Indian (Sanskrit)
9%
French
9%
African
9%
African American
9%
User Submitted Meanings
- A user from New York, U.S. says the name Gentry means "In the case of Bible, Gentry means people of non jewish or jewish but mix with other Non Jewish people".
- A submission from Ohio, U.S. says the name Gentry means "Gentry is derived from an old french word, 'gent', which means noble or well-born. it, as a word, also refers to the upper class, typically in the U.K" and is of French origin.
International Interest
Also see international interest
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
noun Gen"try
Senses
- Birth; condition; rank by birth.(Obs)"Pride of gentrie." [Chaucer.]"She conquers him by high almighty Jove, By knighthood, gentry, and sweet friendship's oath." [Shak.]
- People of education and good breeding; in England, in a restricted sense, those between the nobility and the yeomanry.
- Courtesy; civility; complaisance.(Obs)"To show us so much gentry and good will." [Shak.]
Etymology: OE. genterie gentrie, noble birth, nobility, cf. gentrise, and OF. gentelise genterise, E. gentilesse, also OE. genteleri high-mindedness. See Gent (a.) Gentle (a.)
Other Dictionary Sources
- The most powerful members of a society
Wiktionary
- A surname.