Gary

This interesting and unusual surname is a patronymic of Geary, which is of medieval English origin, from a Germanic personal name. The personal name is derived from "geri, gari", meaning spear, and is a short form of the various compound names with this first element, such as Garbett, with the second element "Berht", meaning bright or famous. The surname Gerrens is also found in Germany, and has the same origin. The modern surname can be found as Geary, Gerr(e)y, Gerrie, Garey and Gar(r)y; while the patronymics include, Gerrens, Gearing, Geering, Ge(h)ring, Gerens and Gerenz. The christening was recorded in Germany of Joannes, son of Joannes Gerrens and Anna Maria Lehnen, on February 5th 1734 at Bitbury, Ul Frauen Roemisch-Katolische, PR. Rheinland. Among the recordings in London is the christening of Henry, son of Joseph and Ann Gerrens, on December 24th 1818 at St. Mary's, St. Marylebone. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard Geri, which was dated 1195, in the "Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire", during the reign of King Richard 1, known as "The Lionheart", 1189 - 1199. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.