Surname Gerrards - Meaning and Origin

Gerrards: What does the surname Gerrards mean?

The last name Gerrards is of French origin and derived from the given name Gerard. Gerard is from Germanic origin and is a combination of two elements: gari meaning "spear" and hard meaning "brave/hardy/strong".

The name has two different interpretations. One of them is that it means "a brave man holding a spear". The other interpretation is that it refers to a speech maker, or someone who was skilled in rhetoric.

Gerrards has a strong religious history as it has been popular among French Catholics since the Middle Ages. Gerard was revered as a saint, as he wrote theological tomes and insisted on speaking truthfully.

Gerrards is also associated with strength and courage. Historically, those who bore the last name had a reputation of being warriors with an unshakeable faith in God and courage in battle.

Gerrards have also achieved various successes, from the academic to the professional world. Famous surname holders include Charles Gerrard, a British cellist; Theodore P. Gerrard, a lawyer and politician; and Rick Gerrard, an actor, singer, and playwright.

In conclusion, the last name Gerrards is associated with a long and distinguished history. It symbolizes strength, courage, religious devotion, and, for some, oratory. Gerrards have achieved great successes throughout their line of descent and continue to make a mark in the world.

Gerrards: Where does the name Gerrards come from?

The last name Gerrards is most commonly seen in Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It originates from the English word Gerard, which is a popular first name which can also be found across Europe.

The Gerrards name is thought to have first been recorded in Warwickshire, England in the 14th century when a Roger Gerard was entered into the Hundred Rolls of 1273. The family had derived their name from the Old French Ger, which means spear, and hard, for hardy or brave. This gives us the meaning of the surname as spear brave.

Today, the name Gerrards has spread from its British roots. In the US, the surname is particularly popular in the states of New York, Texas, California, Massachusetts, and Washington. Across the world, Gerrards is also increasingly popular in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, and Italy.

Generally, Gerrards can be found in small numbers in many European countries. It is estimated that in 2020 there were around 2,870 people in the UK with the Gerrards surname.

Variations of the surname Gerrards

The surname Gerrards has two main variants in spelling: Gerrard and Garrard. Both variants are variants of the same original surname, which is a variation of the French name Gerard. This French name originally meant "brave spearman," and so it is thought that this surname was likely originally adopted by families with warriors in their past.

The variant spellings of Gerrard and Garrard may have originally been a way of distinguishing between members of the same line of a family or between ancestors from different regions. An example of this could be someone with the surname Gerrard from the North and one with the surname Garrard from the South.

When it comes to surnames of the same origin, Gerrards is also connected to names such as Gerarden, Gerrardes, Jerard, Jerardo, Garrards, Gerrade, Gerrette as well as Corpard. These alternate surnames were likely adopted in various regions, due to contractions or changes in spelling of the original name Gerard.

Additionally, some may have adopted different surnames out of necessity. For example, the surname Gerrett may have been adopted at some point in order to distinguish between a demonstrably different family line.

In conclusion, the surname Gerrards is the original version of the name Gerard, and through adoption of different variations and spellings, the surnames Gerrard, Garrard, Gerarden, Gerrardes, Jerard, Jerardo, Garrards, Gerrade, Gerrette and Corpard have all developed.

Famous people with the name Gerrards

• Steven Gerrard: One of the most recognisable names with the last name Gerrards, Steven Gerrard is a former professional footballer who is considered one of England's finest. He is the only player to have scored in a major UEFA final in three different competitions: the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup. He now serves as manager for Scottish club Rangers.
• Mark Gerrard: Following in the footsteps of his elder brother Steven, Mark Gerrard is an English footballer who plays for Richmond. He is also a former graduate of Loughborough University and represented England at the U19 and U21 age groups.
• Frank Gerrards (also known as François Geerards): One of the most prominent composers from the Netherlands, Frank or François Gerrards composed music for many ensembles such as the Dutch Navy Band and the Royal Dutch Conservatory of Music. In addition, he served as a professor of composition at the Conservatory and was awarded the Knight of the Order of the Dutch Lion.
• Ian Gerrard: Ian Gerrard is an English actor, writer, producer, and director who has appeared in films such as Three for All and All in the Golden Afternoon and television programs such as The Bill and Holby City. In addition to his acting career, he is also the owner of the tool hire company Tool Hire Direct, which is based in Retford.
• Amelia Gerrards: Amelia Gerrards is an English singer and songwriter who first came to public attention in 2019 with her debut single “Never Go Back”. Since then, she has gone on to release several more singles, including “Amelia’s Dream” and “Crazy Love”, as well as an EP titled “Wishful Thinking”.

Other surnames

Gerrard