Details for the forename Gerald

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Gerald (male)


Variants:	Gearalt (M) Gearòid (M) Gerallt (M) Géraud (M) Gerhold (M) Gerolt (M) Giraldo (M) Giraldus (M)
Pet Name(s):	Ged (M) Gerry (M) Jed (M) Jerry (M)
Derivative(s):	Garret (M)
Can be spelt:	Gerrald (M) Gerrold (M) Jerald (M) Jerold (M) Jerrold (M)
Feminine form:	Geraldine (F)

Source(s):	English Parish Register freereg.rootsweb.com The Oxford Names Companion, OUP "Scottish Forenames" - Donald Whyte, FGH, FSG
Notes:	English and Irish from Old German "spear wielder" [Whyte] or "strong spear" [ONC]. The French form has an accent: Gérald [see also Géraud]. Introduced into England by the Normans at the same time as Gerard which has a similar but different origin. Since its revival 19^th century, Gerald has been the more popular but not exclusively so. In old documents, written in Latin, Giraldus was used for Gerald, with appropriate case endings.