Ghent

Ghent
This interesting surname, with variant spellings Jent and Ghent, is of early medieval French origin, and is from a nickname for one who was "well born, courteous and noble in conduct". It derives from the Middle English "gente", a development of the Old French "gent" meaning "well born" or "noble". The surname was first recorded in the late 12th Century (see below). One John Gent is recorded in the Pipe Rolls for Worcestershire, 1200. On October 1st 1555, Edward Gent was christened in St. Peter's, Westcheap, London, and Dorothy Gent married John Jones on April 22nd 1577, in St. Dunstan's, Stepney, London. An interesting namebearer was Thomas Gent (1693 - 1778), a printer and topographer; he was a member of the Stationers' Company, and was admitted to the Freedom of the City of London in 1717. He settled in York in 1724, being the sole printer in the city and county. He printed his own histories of York (1730) and Ripon (1734).In the 15th century a distinguished Coat of Arms was granted to William Gent, living in 1468 and his grandson became Baron Gent of the Court of Exchequer, and is described "as a very considerable person in his time", the blazon is an ermine shield, a chief indented sable thereon a label of three points gules, on each three bezants (gold coins) the crest being an eagle displayed. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert le Gent, which was dated 1195, in the "Pipe Rolls of Hampshire", 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.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Ghent — • Comprises the whole territory of East Flanders, one of the nine provinces of Belgium Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Ghent     Ghent      …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Ghent — ist die Bezeichnung mehrerer Orte in den Vereinigten Staaten: Ghent (Kentucky) Ghent (Maine) Ghent (Minnesota) Ghent (New York) Ghent (Ohio) Ghent (Pennsylvania) Ghent (Virginia) Ghent (West Virginia) und ist die englische Schreibweise der… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Ghent — Ghent, NY U.S. Census Designated Place in New York Population (2000): 586 Housing Units (2000): 250 Land area (2000): 1.539739 sq. miles (3.987906 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.004396 sq. miles (0.011386 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.544135 sq.… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • GHENT — (Flemish Gent; Fr. Gand), city in N.W. Belgium. That there was a Jewish settlement in Ghent in the eighth century, as indicated in some early Christian chronicles, is difficult to believe. The Jews were expelled from the city as from the rest of… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Ghent, KY — U.S. city in Kentucky Population (2000): 371 Housing Units (2000): 152 Land area (2000): 0.717025 sq. miles (1.857086 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.717025 sq. miles (1.857086 sq. km) FIPS… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Ghent, MN — U.S. city in Minnesota Population (2000): 315 Housing Units (2000): 131 Land area (2000): 0.268551 sq. miles (0.695544 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.268551 sq. miles (0.695544 sq. km) FIPS… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Ghent, NY — U.S. Census Designated Place in New York Population (2000): 586 Housing Units (2000): 250 Land area (2000): 1.539739 sq. miles (3.987906 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.004396 sq. miles (0.011386 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.544135 sq. miles… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Ghent — Ghent, Städtischer Bezirk mit Postamt (Posttownship) in der Grafschaft Columbia des Staates New York (Nordamerika); 2500 Ew …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Ghent — (altertümlich Gaunt), englischer Name für Gent …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Ghent — [gent] city in NW Belgium: capital of East Flanders: pop. 226,000 …   English World dictionary

  • Ghent — /gent/, n. a port in NW Belgium, at the confluence of the Scheldt and Lys rivers: treaty 1814. 142,551. French, Gand. Flemish, Gent. * * * Flemish Gent French Gand City (pop., 2000 est.: 224,180), capital of East Flanders province, northwestern… …   Universalium

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