Gent

Gent
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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  • Gent — Gent …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • gent — 1. (jan) s. f. 1°   Au sing. •   Nation, race, ô combien lors aura de veuves La gent qui porte le turban !, MALH. III, 1. •   Car elle avait appris de la bouche des Parques, Que du haut sang troyen, semence des monarques, Descendrait une gent… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • Gent — 〈[ dʒɛ̣nt] m. 6; veraltet〉 Stutzer, Geck [engl., „feiner Herr“; Abk. für Gentleman] * * * Gẹnt: Stadt in Belgien. * * * Gẹnt   [niederländisch xɛnt], französisch Gand [gã], Hauptstadt der Provinz …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Gent — (franz. Gand), Hauptstadt der belg. Provinz Ostflandern, vormals der ganzen Grafschaft Flandern, liegt 5 m ü. M. am Zusammenfluß der Schelde und der Lys und ist mit Antwerpen, Brüssel, Courtrai, Tournai, Ostende, Brügge etc. durch Eisenbahnen,… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Gent — Gent, a. [OF. gent, fr. L. genitus born, or (less prob.) fr. gentilis. See {Genteel}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Gentle; noble; of gentle birth. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] All of a knight [who] was fair and gent. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 2. Neat; pretty; fine; …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Gent — may refer to any of the following:* a shortened form of gentleman * Dutch spelling for the city of Ghent in the Flemish region of Belgium * a model for hyperelastic materials, see Gent (hyperelastic model) * Gent (magazine), a men s magazine *… …   Wikipedia

  • gent — [dʒent] n [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: gentleman] 1.) informal especially BrE a ↑gentleman ▪ a well dressed elderly gent ▪ I ve always prided myself on being a perfect gent. 2.) the gents BrE a public toilet for men Am …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Gent [1] — Gent (fr. Gand), 1) Bezirk mit 272,963 Ew. in der belgischen Provinz Ostflandern; 2) Hauptstadt desselben u. der Provinz, ehemalige Hauptstadt der Grafschaft Flandern, an der Schelde, welche hier mit der Lys, Lieve, Moore u.m.a. 26 Inseln bildet …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Gent — Gent, Belgiens wichtiger Handelsplatz und Hauptstadt der Provinz Ostflandern, einst die Residenz der Grafen von Flandern und der mächtigen Herzoge von Burgund. Links am Ufer der Schelde von schiffbaren Canälen und Flüssen durchschnitten, erhebt… …   Damen Conversations Lexikon

  • gent — (del fr. «gent», noble; ant.) adv. Gentilmente …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Gent — [dʒɛnt] der; s, s <aus engl. gent, Kurzform von gentleman, vgl. ↑Gentleman> (iron.) Geck, feiner Mann …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

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