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Dictionary of Medieval Names
from European Sources

Gerard m. Old High German, Old Saxon gēr 'spear' + Old Saxon hard, Old High German hart 'strong, hard'.

The name of a number of saints in the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries.

Often confused with Gerald and Garet. Some forms of this may also be forms of Gerward.

While the name as used across a wide geographic area, different areas had different characteristic spellings. The spelling Gir- is typical of France, while Gher- is typical of the Low Countries and northern Germany.

Austria
Latin
928 Kerhart (nom) UrkStyria 18; c1050 Gerhart (nom) ibid. 58
Belgium
Latin
1212x1213 Gerardus (nom) OvdFB 2
Middle Dutch
1371 Gherard (nom) NotComDest III
Dutch
1597x1598 Geeraerdt BoonenGes p. 328, Geeraert ibid. p. 326, Geerdt ibid. p. 337, Geraerden (dat) ibid. p. 372, Geraerdt ibid. p. 327, Geraert ibid. p. 367, Geraerts (gen) ibid. p. 340
Brabant
Latin
1312 Gerardi (gen) JeanIII p. 10, Gerardum (acc) ibid. p. 43, Gerardus (nom) ibid. p. 15
Czech Republic
Latin
1348 Gerhardo (abl) chlumecky 1; 1349 Gerhardo (dat) ibid. 13, Gerhardum (acc) ibid. 125, Gerhardus (nom) ibid. 43; 1350 Gerardus (nom) ibid. 216, Gerhardus (nom) ibid. 201; 1351 Gerhardo (abl) ibid. 3
Denmark
Danish
1581 Gertt KD-1 no. 362
England
Latin
1185x1186 Gerardi (gen) PR-XXXVI p. 15, Gerardo (dat) ibid. p. 1; 1222 Gerarddus (nom) StPaulDom p. 41, Gerardum (acc) ibid. p. 29, Gerardus (nom) ibid. p. 41, gerardi (gen) ibid. p. 2; 1279–80 Gerardi (gen) WaHR-SK p. 30, Gerardus (nom) ibid. p. 28; 1296 Gerardi (gen) RCS-1 p. 95b, Gerardus (nom) ibid. p. 95b; 1299 Gerardus (nom) ComWil-vol1 p. 2
Dutch
1571 Gerardt AuFr Artis; 1572 Gerardt ibid. Artis; 1573 Geerardt ibid. Bebber; 1574 Gheraert ibid. Bonnijnck; 1575 Gerardt ibid. Artis; 1577 Gheraert ibid. Bethurch; 1579 Geerardt ibid. Bedtbort; 1580 Geerardts ibid. Bedbor; 1581 Geraert ibid. Cubber; 1587 Geeraert ibid. Aertsen; 1588 Geeraert ibid. Cruwe; 1590 Geeraert ibid. Anthonissz; 1593 Geraert ibid. Drael; 1594 Gerart ibid. Brants, Gheeraert ibid. Cousijn; 1596 Geeraert ibid. Brams, Gheeraert ibid. Bonninck; 1597 Gheeraert ibid. Cousijn; 1598 Geeraert ibid. Braems; 1599 Geerart ibid. Cosijn
Middle English
1420 Gerard EEW p. 53; 1429 Gerard WillsInv LV
Early Modern English
1530 Garardes (gen) LIWill-III p. 69
Walloon
1581 Guerard RWC p. 562; 1582/3 Gerard ibid. p. 5; 1583 Gerard ibid. p. 6
Estonia
Middle Low German
1364 Gherd BbRT p. 334; 1384 Gherhardus ibid. p. 338; 1386 Gherd ibid. p. 338; 1393 Gherd ibid. p. 341; 1397 Gherd ibid. p. 340; 1404 Gherd ibid. p. 344; 1408 Gherd ibid. p. 345; 1409 Gherd ibid. p. 345; 1412 Gheerd ibid. p. 346, Gherd ibid. p. 346; 1413 Gherd ibid. p. 346; 1414 Gherd ibid. p. 347; 1419 Gherd ibid. p. 348; 1426 Gherd ibid. p. 351; 1427 Gert ibid. p. 351; 1428 Gerd ibid. p. 352; 1431 Gert ibid. p. 355; 1432 Gerd ibid. p. 356; 1433 Gerd ibid. p. 356, Gert ibid. p. 356; 1435 Gert ibid. p. 357; 1437 Ghert ibid. p. 361; 1438 Ghert ibid. p. 361; 1441 Gert ibid. p. 363; 1592 Gertt Tiik1977 p. 288
France
Latin
c823 Gerardus (nom) irminon-vol2 20, Palatiolum, Girardus (nom) ibid. 94, Ved; 994 Girardi (gen) CartSavII 7, Girardus (nom) ibid. 7; 1012 Girardi (gen) ibid. 104; 1029x1033 Girardus (nom) CartStPC XII; 1055 Geirardo (abl) StVdM-II 739; 1066 Girardus (nom) ibid. 698; 1101x1129 Girardo (abl) CartStPC XXXVI; 1107 Girardi (gen) ibid. XVII, Girardus (nom) ibid. XVII; 1115 Girardus (nom) CartNDJosaphat VI; 1120 Girardus (nom) ibid. VIII; 1123 Gerardi (gen) ibid. XII; 1125 Girardo (dat) NDParisII 2-XLVII, Girardus (nom) ibid. 2-XLVII; 1133 Gerardi (gen) CartNDdOurscamp XXX; 1134 Gerardi (gen) ibid. CLV, Gerardus (nom) ibid. CLV; 1135 Gerardi (gen) ibid. LXXVIII, Girardi (gen) clairvaux-12thc 7, Girardus (nom) ibid. 7; 1138 Gerardi (gen) CartNDdOurscamp LXXXIX; 1138x1162 Girardo (abl) clairvaux-12thc 60, Girardus (nom) ibid. 63; 1141 Gerardi (gen) CartNDSaintes VII; 1147 Gerardus (nom) CartNDdOurscamp XCVII, clairvaux-12thc 19, Girardi (gen) ibid. 14, Girardo (abl) ibid. 15, Girardus (nom) ibid. 14; 1147x62 Girardo (abl) ibid. 55; 1147x1158 Girardus (nom) ibid. 33; 1147x1162 Girardus (nom) ibid. 52; 1153 Gerardus (nom) CartNDSaintes IX; 1156 Gerardus (nom) CartYonne1 CCCLXXXIII, Girardus (nom) ibid. CCCLXXXIII; 1158 Girardus (nom) StVdM-II 702; c1160 Girardi (gen) CartNDdOurscamp XVI; 1162 Girardus (nom) clairvaux-12thc 40; 1163 Girardi (gen) ibid. 99; 1163–64 Girardi (gen) ibid. 112, Girardus (nom) ibid. 115; 1164 Gerardus (nom) ibid. 121, Girardi (nom) ibid. 121, Girardus (nom) ibid. 122; 1166 Garardo (dat) CartNDdOurscamp XC, Girardi (gen) clairvaux-12thc 129, Girardo (abl) ibid. 129, Girardus (nom) ibid. 130; 1167 Gerardi (gen) CartNDSaintes X; 1168 Girardi (gen) clairvaux-12thc 133; 1169 Girardus (nom) ibid. 136; 1171 Gerardo (abl) ibid. 139, Girardi (gen) ibid. 142, Girardus (nom) ibid. 140; 1172 Girardus (nom) ibid. 150; 1173 Girardi (gen) NDParisII 1-III, Girardus (nom) clairvaux-12thc 151; 1174 Gerardi (gen) CartNDdOurscamp CXX; c1175–1180 Gerardus (nom) ChartCaen2 p. 71; 1177 Girardus (nom) clairvaux-12thc 165; 1178 Gerardi (gen) ibid. 167, Girardo (abl) NotSLdN I, Girardus (nom) clairvaux-12thc 166; 1179 Girardi (gen) ibid. 177, Girardo (abl) ibid. 181, Girardus (nom) ibid. 171, Gyrardo (abl) ibid. 181; 1180 Gerard (nom) RotScaNor p. 28, Gerardi (gen) ibid. p. 27, Gerardo (abl) ibid. p. 19, Gerardus (nom) ibid. p. 11, Girardi (gen) ibid. p. 28, Girardo (abl) ibid. p. 19; 1187 Girardo (abl) CartNDdOurscamp LVII; 1190 Gerardi (gen) ibid. CV, Gerardus (nom) ibid. CIII; 1193 Gerardus (nom) ibid. CI; 1196 Gerardus (nom) ibid. CXXXIX; 1209 Gerardi (gen) ibid. LII, Gerardus (nom) ibid. LII; 1229 Gerardi (gen) ibid. LXXXII; 1245 Gerardum (acc) hennes-vol1 119, Gerardus (nom) ibid. 114; 1255 Gerardus (nom) CartNDdOurscamp XXXVI; 1257 Gerardus (nom) ArrestReg-volI VIII, BMV; 1258 Girardo (abl) ibid. XXXVI, pluribus; 1270 Gerardo (abl) CartNDdOurscamp XVII, Girardi (gen) NDParisII 2-XLI; 1273 Girardum (acc) RegToul-13thC p. 19, Girardus (nom) NDParisII 2-XLIII; 1283–86 Gerardi (gen) GasReg-A p. 227, Girardi (gen) ibid. p. 227; 1292 Girardus (nom) MemBret-I 1103, Girart (nom) ibid. 1103; 1301 Girardi (gen) MemPic-vol17 p. 199, Girardo (abl) ibid. p. 261, Girardus (nom) ibid. p. 210; 1308 Gerardi (gen) ArchReimsII1 LXVII; 1378 Gerardi (gen) hanquetvol1 35, Gerardo (dat) ibid. 348, Gerardus (nom) ibid. no. 99, Gherardo (dat) ibid. 1824, Girardi (gen) ibid. 229; 1564 Guerardo (abl) FlorLyon p. 172
1135 Gerardino (abl) CartNDdOurscamp LXXVIII; 1378 Gerardino (dat) hanquetvol1 1223
Old French
1292 Girart 1292paris p. 1, (obl) HistHdVParis p. 113; 1296 Girart paris1296 p. 3; 1299 Girard (obl) HistHdVParis p. 148, Girart (obl) ibid. p. 147; 1301 Gerars (nom) MemPic-vol17 p. 335 [p. 235], Gerart (obl) ibid. p. 292, Girard (obl) ibid. p. 286, Girars (obl) ibid. p. 292, Girart (obl) ibid. p. 233; 1303 Gerart (obl) ArchReimsII1 XL; 1307 Gerars (nom) ibid. LX, Gerart (obl) ibid. LX; 1313 Gerart Paris1313 p. 1, Girard ibid. p. 19, Girart ibid. p. 14
1296 Girardin paris1296 p. 43
Middle French
1386 Girard MemBret-II col. 513; 1388 Guerard thierry, Guerart ibid.; 1392 Gerar MemBret-II col. 607, Girard ibid. col. 613, Girart ibid. col. 605, Guerart ibid. col. 609; 1404 Girard HistHdVParis no. 4; 1415[1469x1471] Gerard Waurin p. 228, Grard ibid. p. 227; 1418 Girard HGParis p. 373, Girart DdB1418 p. 197, HGParis p. 373; 1421 Gerart favier 1028, Girard ibid. 274, Girart ibid. 552; 1423 Gerard ibid. 382, Girard ibid. 68, Girart ibid.; 1438 Girard ibid. 411, Girart ibid.; 1466 Girard HistHdVParis no. 5; 1561 Girard RegPCC-1 p. 5; 1562 Gyrard ibid. p. 9; 1564 Girard ibid. p. 49; 1565 Girard ibid. p. 121; 1566 Girard ibid. p. 198; 1567 Girard ibid. p. 341; 1570 Girard ibid. p. 434; 1572 Girard ibid. p. 492; 1587 Gerard RTFProvins 67
1418 Girardin DdB1418 p. 205, HGParis p. 381; 1438 Girardin favier 162
Germany
Latin
963x1023 Gherhard (nom) TradCorb §227; 966 Gerhardi (gen) quix-vol1 14; 1020 Gerhardus (nom) ibid. 58; 1061 Gerhardus (nom) ibid. 60; 1064 Gerhardus (nom) ibid. 92; 1122 Gerardi (gen) ibid. 27; 1130 Gerhardi (gen) ibid. 63; 1134 Gerardus (nom) ibid. 97; 1135 Gerhardus (nom) ibid. 64; 1136 Gerardus (nom) ibid. 98; 1142 Gerhardus (nom) mairhofer X; 1143 Gerardi (nom) ibid. XIV; 1147 Gerardi (gen) quix-vol1 29; 1165 Gerhardus (nom) ibid. 93; 1173 Gerardo (abl) ibid. 99, Gerardus (nom) ibid. 99; 1185 Gerardus (nom) ibid. 36; 1192 Gerardus (nom) ibid. 40, Gerhardus (nom) ibid. 66; 1194 Gerardus (nom) ibid. 54; 1197 Gerardi (gen) ibid. 83, Gerardus (nom) ibid. 83, Gherardus (nom) CDL-1.1.1 I; 1206 Gerhardus (nom) hennes-vol1 7; 1208 Gerardus (nom) quix-vol2 124; 1210 Gerhardi (gen) CDL-1.1.1 IV; 1212 Gerardo (abl) quix-vol2 125, Gerardus (nom) quix-vol1 103; 1214x15 Gerhardus (nom) hennes-vol1 19; 1215 Gerardus (nom) quix-vol2 126; 1216 Gerardus (nom) hennes-vol1 21; 1217 Gerhardus (nom) quix-vol1 71; 1218 Gerardus (nom) hennes-vol1 32; 1219 Gerhardo (abl) quix-vol1 73; 1221 Gerhardus (nom) hennes-vol1 58; 1222 Gerardus (nom) quix-vol1 74, quix-vol2 132; 1229 Gerardi (gen) CDL-1.1.1 X, Gerhardo (abl) ibid. X, Gerhardus (nom) ibid. X; 1231 Gerardus (nom) ibid. XI; 1233 Gerardus (nom) ibid. XIV; 1234 Gerardus (nom) quix-vol1 105; 1237 Gerhardi (gen) hennes-vol1 95; 1238 Gerardi (gen) CDL-1.1.1 XVII; 1253 Gerhardus (nom) hennes-vol1 146; 1258 Gerardo (abl) ibid. 185; 1259 Gerhardus (nom) CDL-1.1.1 XXXI; 1260 Gerardi (gen) hennes-vol1 191, Gerardo (abl) ibid. 189, Gerardus (nom) ibid. 190; 1281 Gerhardus (nom) UrkHeil1 31a; 1305 Gherardus (nom) UrkMeck-5 2996; 1309 Gerhardus (nom) VFBStralsund 17; 1315 Gherardum (acc) ibid. 47; 1321 Gerghardus (nom) ibid. 61, Gherardus (nom) ibid. 64; 1322 Gherardus (nom) ibid. 76; 1323 Gherardi (gen) ibid. 88; 1324 Gherardus (nom) ibid. 82; 1358 Gherardum (acc) SDHK no. 7438; 1394 Gyrardi (gen) SMM p. 177; 1401 Gerhardo (dat) HD1401 no. 19, gerhardi (gen) ibid. no. 194; 1471 Gerd (nom) VFBStralsund 681
Early New High German
1402 Gerhart (nom) mairhofer DCLXXI; 1411 Gerhart (nom) ibid. DCXCIII, Gerharten (dat) ibid. DCXCIII; 1418 Gerhart (nom) ibid. DCCVII; 1419 Gerhart (nom) ibid. DCCXI; 1420 Gerhard (nom) ibid. DCCXV; 1497 Gerhart Nurn1497 p. 36
Middle Low German
1376 Ghert (nom) UrkMeck19 10820; 1472 Gerd VFBStralsund 683
Ireland
Latin
fin12thC Gerardus (nom) MunDocIr III, p. 13, Gerrardi (gen) ibid. III, p. 25
Italy
Latin
994 Ierardo (abl) RCI-Cam1 4; 1100 Gerardi (gen) ibid. 629; 1169 Gerardi (gen) clairvaux-12thc 135; 1189 Gerardus (nom) ChStBo1 I; 1198 Gerardini (gen) ibid. III, Girardetti (gen) ibid. III, Girardi (gen) ibid. V, Girardus (nom) ibid. IV; 1243 Girardum (acc) hennes-vol1 110; 1257 Gerardus (nom) ibid. 165; 1285 Gerardi (gen) Perugia1285 p. 157; 1304 Gerardum (acc) AnnMin6 XII; 1310 Gyrardi (gen) MonRav-2 CCCL; 1326 Gerardo (abl) Friuli-14thC no. 427; 1376 Guirardi (gen) DouGen1 p. 227, Guirardo (abl) ibid. p. 16; 1387 Girardi (gen) Venditti II-2050; 1464 Girardus (nom) CUP-III-I CCXXXI; 1490 Gherardi (gen) VitAs2 III; 1521 Ghirardi (gen) ibid. I, Ghirardus (nom) ibid. VI, Girardo (abl) ibid. II
1198 Gerardettus (nom) ChStBo1 III, Gerardinus (nom) ibid. III; 1236 Gerardinum (acc) TirNot1 6; 1285 Gerardini (gen) Perugia1285 p. 161; 1366 Gherardini (gen) Livi 10
Italian
1449 Girardo VitAs2 IV
Latvia
Latin
1286 Gerhardus (nom) RigSB 484; 1288 Gerhardo (dat) ibid. 511; 1289 Gerhardo (dat) ibid. 13, Gerhardus (nom) ibid. 133; 1290 Gerhardo (dat) ibid. 21; 1292 Gerhardo (dat) ibid. 148; 1293 Gerhardo (dat) ibid. 243, Gerhardus (nom) ibid. 301; 1294 Gerhardo (dat) ibid. 169; 1296 Gerrardus (nom) ibid. 382; 1298 Gerhardo (dat) ibid. 265; 1302 Gerhardo (dat) ibid. 196; 1303 Gerhardo (dat) ibid. 97; 1305 Gerhardo (dat) ibid. 282; 1307 Gerhardo (dat) ibid. 287, Gerhardus (nom) ibid. 113; 1333 Gerhardo (dat) ibid. 321
The Netherlands
Latin
1235 Gerardus (nom) hennes-vol1 93; 1254 Gerardus (nom) GesOIJ-1 p. 293; 1256 Gerardo (abl) OHZI-II no. 1; 1270 Gerardi (gen) GesOIJ-1 p. 295, Gerardus (nom) ibid. p. 295; 1288 Gerardi (gen) ibid. p. 296, Gerardus (nom) ibid. p. 296; 1297 Gerardus (nom) ibid. p. 297; 1300 Gerardo (abl) ibid. p. 298; 1311 Gherhardi (gen) ibid. p. 298; 1324 Gerardi (gen) ibid. p. 298, Gerardus (nom) ibid. p. 298; 1334 Gerardus (nom) ibid. p. 299; 1347 Gerardi (gen) ibid. p. 300; 1349 Gerardus (nom) ibid. p. 300; 1356 gerardus (nom) ibid. p. 301; 1361 Gerardi (gen) ibid. p. 302, Gerardus (nom) ibid. p. 302; 1373 Gerardi (gen) ibid. p. 303, Gerardus (nom) ibid. p. 303; 1387 Gerardi (gen) ibid. p. 304, Gerardus (nom) ibid. p. 304
Dutch
1579 Geert MagMiddelburg-1560; 1580 Geert ibid.
Spain
Catalan
1488 Guerret carbonell-I p. 19; 1510 Guerau valencia1510 3896
Sweden
Old Swedish
1383 Gerardus SRA-vol2 no. 1918
Switzerland
Latin
1167 Girardus (nom) CartHaut 22; 1220 Gerardus (nom) ibid. 37; 14thCx1478 Girardi (gen) Ob-SPVn (179), Girardus (nom) ibid. (23)
Cite as: R. Le Get, J. Uckelman, S.L. Uckelman. "Gerard". In S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2018, no. 1. http://dmnes.org/2018/1/name/Gerard.