Gerard is a masculine forename of

Proto-Germanic Proto-Germanic (abbreviated PGmc; also called Common Germanic) is the reconstructed proto-language of the Germanic branch of the Indo-European languages. Proto-Germanic eventually developed from pre-Proto-Germanic into three Germanic bran ...

origin, variations of which exist in many Germanic and

Romance languages The Romance languages, sometimes referred to as Latin languages or Neo-Latin languages, are the various modern languages that evolved from Vulgar Latin. They are the only extant subgroup of the Italic languages in the Indo-European language f ...

. Like many other early Germanic names, it is dithematic, consisting of two meaningful constituents put together. In this case, those constituents are ''gari'' > ''ger-'' (meaning 'spear') and -''hard'' (meaning 'hard/strong/brave'). Common forms of the name are Gerard (English, Scottish, Irish, Dutch, Polish and

Catalan Catalan may refer to: Catalonia From, or related to Catalonia: * Catalan language, a Romance language * Catalans, an ethnic group formed by the people from, or with origins in, Northern or southern Catalonia Places * 13178 Catalan, asteroid ...

); Gerrard (English, Scottish, Irish); Gerardo ( Italian, and Spanish); Geraldo ( Portuguese); Gherardo ( Italian); Gherardi (

Northern Italian Northern Italy ( it, Italia settentrionale, it, Nord Italia, label=none, it, Alta Italia, label=none or just it, Nord, label=none) is a geographical and cultural region in the northern part of Italy. It consists of eight administrative region ...

, now only a surname);

Gérard Gérard (French: ) is a French masculine given name and surname of Germanic origin, variations of which exist in many Germanic and Romance languages. Like many other early Germanic names, it is dithematic, consisting of two meaningful constitu ...

(variant forms ''Girard'' and ''Guérard'', now only surnames,

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

); Gearóid ( Irish); Gerhardt and

Gerhart Gerhart may refer to: As a given name * Gerhart Baum (born 1932), German politician and former Federal Minister of the Interior * Gerhart Eisler (1897-1968), German communist politician * Gerhart Friedlander (1916–2009), nuclear chemist who wo ...

Gerhard Gerhard is a name of Germanic origin and may refer to: Given name * Gerhard (bishop of Passau) (fl. 932–946), German prelate * Gerhard III, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg (1292–1340), German prince, regent of Denmark * Gerhard Barkhorn (1919– ...

/ Gerhardus ( German, Dutch, and

Afrikaans Afrikaans (, ) is a West Germanic language that evolved in the Dutch Cape Colony from the Dutch vernacular of Holland proper (i.e., the Hollandic dialect) used by Dutch, French, and German settlers and their enslaved people. Afrikaans g ...

); Gellért ( Hungarian); Gerardas (

Lithuanian Lithuanian may refer to: * Lithuanians * Lithuanian language * The country of Lithuania * Grand Duchy of Lithuania * Culture of Lithuania * Lithuanian cuisine * Lithuanian Jews as often called "Lithuanians" (''Lita'im'' or ''Litvaks'') by other Jew ...

) and Gerards/Ģirts ( Latvian); Γεράρδης (

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders wit ...

). A few abbreviated forms are

Gerry Gerry is both a surname and a masculine or feminine given name. As a given name, it is often a short form (hypocorism) of Gerard, Gerald or Geraldine. Notable people with the name include: Surname * Elbridge Gerry (1744–1814), fifth US vice pre ...

and Jerry (English); Gerd (German) and Gert (Afrikaans and Dutch); Gerrit (Afrikaans and Dutch); Gertjie (Afrikaans); Geert (Dutch) and Жоро ( Bulgarian). The introduction of the name 'Gerard' into the English language took place following the Norman conquest of England in 1066. Its original forms in Old French were “Gerard, Gerart” ʒeʁɑʁand “Girart”. Patronymic surnames derived from a form of Gerard include

Garrard Garrard may refer to: *Garrard (surname) *Garrard (automobile) *Garrard, Kentucky *Garrard County, Kentucky See also *Garrard Engineering and Manufacturing Company *Garrard & Co Garrard & Co. Limited, formerly Asprey & Garrard Limited, design ...

, Garritsen, Gerard, Geertsen, Gerardet, Gerardi, Gerdes, Gerrard, Gerretsen, Gerrits(e), Gerritsen, Ghiraldi, and

Giraud Giraud is a surname. It is a variant of the Proto-Germanic name '' Gerard'', meaning spear-strong. Notable people with this surname * Albert Giraud (1860–1929), Belgian poet * Alexis Giraud-Teulon (1839–1916), French academic, lawyer and tran ...

. The name

Gerald Gerald is a male Germanic given name meaning "rule of the spear" from the prefix ''ger-'' ("spear") and suffix ''-wald'' ("rule"). Variants include the English given name Jerrold, the feminine nickname Jeri and the Welsh language Gerallt and ...

, while

phonetic Phonetics is a branch of linguistics that studies how humans produce and perceive sounds, or in the case of sign languages, the equivalent aspects of sign. Linguists who specialize in studying the physical properties of speech are phoneticians. ...

ally similar to Gerard, derives from a slightly different set of constituents: ''ger'' and ''wald'' (meaning 'rule/lead').

First name

Academics

* Gerard Bolland (1854–1922), Dutch philosopher and radical * Gerard Clauson (1891–1974), English Orientalist * Gerard of Cremona (1114–1187), Italian translator of scientific Arabic works * Gerard De Geer (1858–1943), Swedish geologist * Gerard Heymans (1857–1930), Dutch philosopher and psychologist * Gerard Hendrik Hofstede (born 1928), Dutch social psychologist * Gerard 't Hooft (born 1946), Dutch theoretical physicist * Gerard de Jode (1509–1591), Dutch cartographer, engraver and publisher *

Gerard Krefft Johann Ludwig (Louis) Gerard Krefft (17 February 1830 – 19 February 1881), a talented artist and draughtsman, and the Curator of the Australian Museum for 13 years (1861-1874), was one of Australia's first and most influential zoologists a ...

(1830–1881), Australian zoologist * Gerard de Kremer (1512–1594), Flemish cartographer, geographer and cosmographer * Gerard Kuiper (1905–1973), Dutch–American astronomer * Gerard Labuda (1916–2010), Polish historian *

Gerard van der Leeuw Gerardus (Gerard) van der Leeuw (18 March 1890 – 18 November 1950) was a Dutch historian and philosopher of religion, ordained minister and politician. Gerard van der Leeuw studied theology and egyptology at Leiden University, in Göttin ...

(1890–1950), Dutch historian and philosopher of religion * Gerard K. O'Neill (1927–1992), American physicist and space activist * Gerard Salton (1927–1995), German–born American computer scientist * Gerard van Swieten (1700–1772), Dutch–Austrian physician

Arts

Music

Gerard Joling Gerard Jan Joling (born 29 April 1960) is a Dutch singer and television presenter. Known for his high tenor voice, he rose to fame in the late 1980s and released a string of singles including "Ticket to the Tropics" and "Love Is in Your Eyes". H ...

(born 1960), Dutch pop singer * Gerard Mortier (1943–2014), Belgian opera director and administrator * Gerard Nolan (1946–1992), American rock drummer * Gerard Schwarz (born 1947), American conductor * Gerard Way (born 1977), American singer-songwriter and comic book writer

Theater and film

* Gerard Depardieu (born 1948), French actor, filmmaker, and vineyard owner * Gerard Montgomery Bluefeather (1887–1963), American movie actor known as "Monte Blue" * Gerard Butler (born 1969), Scottish actor * Gerard Damiano (1928–2008), American director of adult films * Gerard Marenghi (born 1920), American actor * Gerard McSorley (born 1950), Irish actor * Gerard Murphy (Irish actor) (1948–2013), Northern Irish actor * Gerard Kenneth Tierney (1924–1985), American TV and western actor known as Scott Brady

Visual arts

* Gerard Bilders (1838–1865), Dutch painter and art collector * Gerard ter Borch (1617–1681), Dutch painter *

Gerard David Gerard David (c. 1460 – 13 August 1523) was an Early Netherlandish painter and manuscript illuminator known for his brilliant use of color. Only a bare outline of his life survives, although some facts are known. He may have been the Meester ...

(1460–1523), Dutch painter * Gerard Dou (1613–1675), Dutch genre painter *

Gerard Douffet Gerard Douffet (6 August 1594 – 1660/1661), also known as Doufeet or Duffeit, was a Walloon painter. He was born at Liège in 1594, and studied for some time at Antwerp, Belgium in the school of Rubens, and afterwards in Italy. He composed a ...

(1594–1660), Flemish painter * Gerard Edelinck (1640–1707), Flemish–born French engraver * Gerard Hoet (1648–1733), Dutch painter and engraver * Gerard van Honthorst (1592–1656), Dutch painter * Gerard Horenbout (c. 1465–c. 1541), Flemish miniaturist a.k.a. the Master of James IV of Scotland * Gerard Houckgeest (c. 1600–1661), Dutch architectural and church interior painter * Gerard de Lairesse (1641–1711), Dutch painter and art theorist * Gerard Moerdijk (1890–1958), South African architect * Gerard Thomas Rietveld (1888–1964), Dutch furniture designer and architect * Gerard Seghers (1591–1651), Flemish painter, art collector, and art dealer * Gerard van Spaendonck (1746–1822), Dutch floral painter

Writing

* Gerard F. Conway (born 1952), American writer of comic books and television shows * Gerard Malanga (born 1943), American poet, photographer, filmmaker, curator and archivist. * Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–1889), British poet * Gérard de Nerval (1808–1855), nom-de-plume of French writer, poet, and translator Gérard Labrunie * Gerard Reve (1923–2006), Dutch writer * Gerard Walschap (1898–1989), Belgian writer

Business

* Gerard Adriaan Heineken (1841–1893), Dutch founder of Heineken beer *

Gerard Kleisterlee Gerard Johannes Kleisterlee (born 28 September 1946) is a Dutch businessman and engineer. He is the chairman of Vodafone, and the former president and CEO of Philips. Early life Born in Germany in 1946 to Dutch and German parents, he was raised ...

(born 1946), Dutch business executive, CEO of Philips * Gerard Philips (1858–1942), Dutch co–founder of "Philips" * Gerard Reynst (1560s–1615), Dutch merchant and Governor–General of the Dutch East Indies

Crime

* Gerard Conlon (1954–2014), wrongfully imprisoned Northern Irishman, subject of "In the Name of the Father," * Gerard John Schaefer (1946–1995), American serial killer * Gerard Mahon, part of a married Irish couple who with wife was murdered in

Twinbrook, Belfast Poleglass () is an area of west Belfast in Northern Ireland. It is the name of a townland, a modern electoral ward, and a housing estate. The townland is situated in the civil parish of Derriaghy and the historic Barony of Belfast Upper. ...

Medieval rulers

* Gerard I of Paris (d. 779), count of Paris * Gerard, Count of Auvergne (died 841), son of Pepin I * Gerhard I of Metz (c. 875–910), count of Metz *

Gerard, Duke of Lorraine Gerard ( – 14 April 1070), also known as Gerard the Wonderful, was a Lotharingian nobleman. He was the count of Metz and Châtenois from 1047 to 1048, when his brother Duke Adalbert resigned them to him upon his becoming the Duke of Upper L ...

(c. 1030–1070), Lotharingian nobleman * Gerard Grenier (died c. 1170), Lord of Sidon, Kingdom of Jerusalem * Gerard I, Count of Guelders (c. 1060–1120) *

Gerard II, Count of Guelders Gerard II was Count of Guelders from March 1129 until his death on October 24, 1131. He was the son of Gerard I, Count of Guelders. Around 1116, Gerard married Ermgard of Zutphen, daughter of Otto II, Count of Zutphen and Judith of Arnstein.Lindeb ...

(died 1131) * Gerard, Count of Loon (died 1191) * Gerard, Count of Rieneck (died 1216), son of Gerard, Count of Loon * Gerard III, Count of Guelders (1185–1229) * Gerhard III, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg (died 1340)

Military

* Gerard Bucknall (1894–1980), British army general * Gerard Pietersz Hulft (1621–1656), Dutch general *

Gerard Lake, 1st Viscount Lake Gerard Lake, 1st Viscount Lake (27 July 1744 – 20 February 1808) was a British general. He commanded British forces during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and later served as Commander-in-Chief of the military in British India. Background He w ...

(1744–1808), British general *

Gerard de Ridefort Gérard de Ridefort, also called Gerard de Ridefort (died 4 October 1189), was Grand Master of the Knights Templar from the end of 1184 and until his death in 1189. Early life Gerard de Ridefort is thought probably to have been of Flemish ori ...

(died 1189), Flemish Grand Master of the Knights Templar

Politics

* Gerard Adams (born 1948), Irish politician, leader of the Sinn Feín party * Gerard Batliner (1928–2008), Prime Minister of Liechtenstein * Gerard Batten (born 1954), English UKIP politician *

Gerard Anthony Brownlee Gerard Anthony Brownlee (born 4 February 1956) is a New Zealand politician of the New Zealand National Party. He has been a Member of Parliament since 1996, was Leader of the House, Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery and Minister of F ...

(born 1956), New Zealand government minister * Gerard Collier, 5th Baron Monkswell (1947–2020), British politician * Gerard Cooreman (1852–1926), Belgian Prime Minister *

Gerard Wijeyekoon Sir Gerard Wijeyekoon (5 May 1878 – 21 September 1952) was a Ceylonese lawyer and a politician. He was the first President of the Senate of Ceylon. Born Abraham Charles Gerard Wijeyekoon, he was educated at Wesley College, Colombo and Royal ...

(1878-1952), Sri Lankan Sinhala lawyer and politician, first President of the Senate of Ceylon

Religion

* Gerard, Abbot of Brogne (c. 895–959), Belgian abbot and saint * Gerard of Toul (935–994), German bishop and saint * Gerard of Csanád (died 1046), Hungarian bishop and saint, a.k.a. ''Gerard Sagredo'' * Gerard of Florennes (c. 975–1051), Bishop of Cambrai * Gerard of Burgundy (died 1061), known as Pope Nicholas II * Gerard (archbishop of York) (died 1108), English archbishop * Blessed Gerard (c. 1040–1120), Benedictine founder of the Knights Hospitaller * Gerard Segarelli (c. 1240–1309), Italian founder of the Apostolic Brethern * Gérard de Dainville (died 1378), Bishop of Cambrai * Gerard Groote (1340–1384), Dutch founder of the Brethren of the Common Life * Gerard van Groesbeeck (1517–1580), Flemish bishop and cardinal * Gerard Majella (1726–1755), Italian lay brother and saint * Gerard de Korte (born 1955), Dutch Roman Catholic bishop

Sports

* Gerard Cieślik (1927–2013), Polish football striker * Gerard Deulofeu (born 1994), Spanish football forward * Gerard Kemkers (born 1967), Dutch speed skater and skating coach * Gerard Friedrich Knetemann (1951–2004), Dutch racing cyclist * Gerard López (born 1979), Spanish football midfielder * Gerard Moreno (born 1992), Spanish football striker * Gerard Nijboer (born 1955), Dutch long–distance runner * Gerard Piqué (born 1987), Spanish football defender * Gerard Plessers (born 1959), Belgian football defender * Gerard de Rooy (born 1980), Dutch truck racer * Gerard van Velde (born 1971), Dutch speed skater and skating coach

Last name

* Alexander Gerard (1728–1795), Scottish church minister and academic * Alexander Gerard (explorer) (1792–1839), Scottish army officer and Himalayan explorer *

A. E. Gerard Alfred Edward Gerard (11 August 1877 – 13 October 1950), generally known as "A. E. Gerard", was a South Australian electrician and businessman who founded the Adelaide companies of Gerard & Goodman and Clipsal. History William Gerard (c. 1843 ...

(1877–1950), Alfred Edward Gerard, founder of several South Australian electrical businesses *

Alphonso Gerard Alphonso "Piggy" Gerard (June 26, 1916 - July 14, 2002) was a baseball outfielder in the Negro leagues. He played professionally in the United States from 1945 to 1948 with the New York Black Yankees, Indianapolis Clowns, and the Chicago Amer ...

(1916–2002), Negro league baseball player * Darren Gerard (born 1984), English cricketer *

Dorothea Gerard Dorothea Mary Stanislaus Gerard (Mme Longard de Longgarde, 9 August 1855 – 29 September 1915) was a Scottish-born novelist and romance-writer who often wrote about controversial and unconventional subjects and "whose general conservatism co-e ...

(1855-1915), Scottish novelist *

Eddie Gerard Edward George Gerard (February 22, 1890 – August 7, 1937) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, coach, and manager. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, he played professionally for 10 seasons for his hometown Ottawa Senators. He spent the ...

(1890–1937), Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach * Emily Gerard (1849–1905), Scottish author * Étienne Maurice Gérard (1773–1852), French general and politician * Geoff Gerard (born 1955), Australian rugby league player * Geoff Gerard (politician) (1904–1997), New Zealand politician * Gil Gerard (born 1943), American actor *

Sir Gilbert Gerard, 1st Baronet of Harrow on the Hill Sir Gilbert Gerard, 1st Baronet of Harrow on the Hill (23 October 1587 – 6 January 1670), was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1614 and 1660. He was a supporter of the Parliamentary cause during ...

(1587–1670), English politician * Gilbert Gerard (judge) (died 1593), English lawyer and judge * Gilbert Gerard (theological writer) (1760–1815), Scottish writer * Jack N. Gerard (born 1957), leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints * Jacques Gérard, French World War I

flying ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...

* James W. Gerard (1867–1951), American lawyer and diplomat *

Jim Gerard Richard James Gerard (born 20 October 1936) is a former New Zealand politician. He was a National Party Member of Parliament from 1984 to 1997. Early life Gerard was born on 20 October 1936 in Canterbury. His father was the National MP Geoff G ...

(born 1936), New Zealand politician *

John Gerard John Gerard (also John Gerarde, c. 1545–1612) was an English herbalist with a large garden in Holborn, now part of London. His 1,484-page illustrated ''Herball, or Generall Historie of Plantes'', first published in 1597, became a popular gard ...

(1545–1612), English botanist * John Gerard (Jesuit) (died 1637) * Leo Gerard (born 1947), Canadian labour union leader *

Ralph W. Gerard Ralph Waldo Gerard (7 October 1900 – 17 February 1974) was an American neurophysiologist and behavioral scientist known for his wide-ranging work on the nervous system, nerve metabolism, psychopharmacology, and biological basis of schizophrenia. ...

(1900–1974), American neurophysiologist * Red Gerard (born 2000), American snowboarder * Richard Gerard of Hilderstone (1635–1680), English landowner *

Robert Gerard Robert Geoffrey Gerard AO (born 3 January 1945) is a businessman, was Chairman of the Gerard Family's company Gerard Industries Pty Ltd, a former member of the Reserve Bank of Australia, and ran for the leadership of the Liberal party in 1987. ...

(born 1944) South Australian electrical merchant and manufacturer * Sumner Gerard (1916–2005), American businessman, Montana politician, and US Ambassador to Jamaica

Fictional characters

*Prince Gerard Himerce, the main hero of Gaiapolis * Brigadier Gerard in the novel ''Uncle Bernac'' and the short story anthologies ''The Adventures of Gerard'' and "The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard'', by Arthur Conan Doyle * Joe Gerard, husband of the title character in the 1970s television series ''Rhoda'' *Philip Gerard, pursuer of the title character in the television series '' The Fugitive'' *Samuel Gerard, in the films '' The Fugitive'' and '' U.S. Marshals'' *

Gerard DuGalle Major and recurring characters from the military science fiction series ''StarCraft'' are listed below, organised by respective species and most commonly affiliated faction within the fictional universe. The story of the ''StarCraft'' series revolv ...

, in the video game ''StarCraft: Brood War'' * Gerard Duval, in the 1929 novel ''All Quiet on the Western Front'' by

Erich Maria Remarque Erich Maria Remarque (, ; born Erich Paul Remark; 22 June 1898 – 25 September 1970) was a German-born novelist. His landmark novel '' All Quiet on the Western Front'' (1928), based on his experience in the Imperial German Army during Wor ...

*Gérard, in the '' Chronicles of Amber'' novel series by

Roger Zelazny Roger Joseph Zelazny (May 13, 1937 – June 14, 1995) was an American poet and writer of fantasy and science fiction short stories and novels, best known for '' The Chronicles of Amber''. He won the Nebula Award three times (out of 14 nom ...

*Gerard Argent, a

werewolf In folklore, a werewolf (), or occasionally lycanthrope (; ; uk, Вовкулака, Vovkulaka), is an individual that can shapeshift into a wolf (or, especially in modern film, a therianthropic hybrid wolf-like creature), either purposel ...

hunter Hunting is the human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, or killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to harvest food (i.e. meat) and useful animal products (fur/ hide, bone/tusks, horn/antler, et ...

and antagonist in MTV's cult television show '' Teen Wolf''. *Marcel Gerard, a vampire and ruler of the

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

The CW ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in ...

network's television series '' The Originals''. * Gerard Valkyrie is a Quincy and a member of the Wandenreich's Sternritter with the designation "M" - The Miracle from the Bleach manga

References

{{given name English-language surnames Patronymic surnames Dutch masculine given names English masculine given names Polish masculine given names