Surname Gent - Meaning and Origin
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Gent: What does the surname Gent mean?
The last name Gent is of English origin. It is thought to be a shortened form of the Old English name Ghent, with the suffix ‘-ent’ meaning ‘son of’. It may have derived from an ancient British tribal name, meaning ‘people of Ghent’.
The earliest record of the name is found in the Doomsday Book of 1086, where it appeared as an Anglo-Norman spelling, Gent, referring to a man named Gent from the county of Kent. The name was also found in Oxfordshire in the 13th century, as recorded in the Hundred Rolls of 1273.
The name Gent has many variants, including Ghent, Gent, Gaunt, Gant, Gawnt and Gauntin. It is also sometimes found written as Gantt and Gauntlet. Depending on where the Gent surname is found, different countries have their own particular spelling variations.
The name Gent is still found throughout England and the British Isles today, with nearly 1,000 people carrying that surname there. In the US, the name is much less common, but there are still a few hundred people with that name.
Order DNA origin analysisGent: Where does the name Gent come from?
The surname Gent is of English origin and is mostly confined to western and southwestern Britain, particularly in the region in and around Devon/Cornwall. In 2016, the most recent data available, it was the 799th most popular last name in England and Wales. It is most common in Devon, Cornwall and Gloucestershire, but can also be found in some other parts of Britain such as Dorset, London, Yorkshire, and Lancashire.
Outside of Britain, Gent is rarely encountered, probably because the variant Gentz found in Germany and Holland is more common in those countries. In addition, the surname Gent is common throughout the English-speaking world among descendants of British immigrants. It can be found in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United States.
Moreover, a variant spelling of Gent called Gentil can be found in France in the region of Haute-Marne. This suggests the name was taken to England by Flemish immigrants.
Altogether, the name Gent is mostly found in Britain and the English-speaking countries. As such, it has become widely dispersed throughout the English-speaking world due to migratory movements in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Variations of the surname Gent
The surname Gent, which originated in the United Kingdom, has a wide range of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
Variants of Gent include Ghent, Gentt, Gantt, Gaunt, Gente and Gento.
Spellings of Gent include Gent, Gaunt, Gante, Gente, Genty and Ginty. Other based-on-sound spellings are Jent, Gint and Jentt.
Many surnames are derived from Surname Gent, including Gant, Gantling, Gentil, Gentles, Gentry, Ghenton, Ginton and Gintling.
Similar surnames which may be linked to the surname Gent include Gandy, Gandyke, Gant, Garland, and Garson. These surnames are not necessarily variants of Gent, but are surnames that may share its geographical or occupational origin.
It is believed that the surname Gent is a patronymic surname, derived from the given name of the father. In this case, "Gent" may have been a given name or a nickname meaning "gentle" or "well born". It may also mean "noble", or come from an Old English word meaning "horse keeper", indicating a person who bred and/or trained horses.
The surname Gent is found in many countries outside of the United Kingdom, indicating a wide dispersal. It is particularly prevalent in Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
Famous people with the name Gent
- Ian Gent: British mathematician who specialises in game theory.
- Matthew Gent: English footballer who has been a key part of several Premier League teams.
- Jonathan Gent: British actor who has appeared in films, television shows, and plays.
- Alexandra Gent: English professional dancer and choreographer who has worked on music videos, films, and stage productions.
- Tom Gent: English cricketer and former captain of the Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
- Sarah Gent: Academy Award-winning English animator and director who has worked on studios such as Disney and Aardman Animation.
- John Gent: British actor, best known for his role in the drama series, The Bill.
- Robert Gent: English footballer and coach to the Wales National Team.
- Mark Gent: English actor and comedic performer, starring in films such as Little Britain and Shaun of the Dead.
- Joseph Gent: English historical novelist best known for his book Red Rose.