Gentry surname meaning

Gentry is an English surname, especially from Essex and Middlesex, from Middle English and Old French genterie, “nobility of birth or character.” It began as a nickname or status comment—sometimes sincere, sometimes ironic—for someone who acted the gentleman or claimed gentle birth. Gentle is a closely related surname from the same word-family. The label need not prove actual landed rank for every medieval bearer. Nickname (including status-nickname) is the catalog type, and the genterie reading is high confidence among English sources.