Surname Gentile - Meaning and Origin

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C. Gentile

Gentile: What does the surname Gentile mean?

The surname Gentile has Italian origins and is derived from the term "gentile" meaning "gentle" or "noble" in English. It was often used in medieval Italy to denote a person from a noble or distinguished family, much like "noble" or "royal" in English surnames. The surname Gentile might also denote someone who is courteous, well bred, chivalrous, or generous.

However, it can also mean a non-Jewish person, especially a Christian, tracing back to its Latin root "gentilis" which means "of the same family or clan" or "foreign". In this context, it was used in the Bible to refer to those who were not Jewish. But as a surname, Gentile primarily maintains its Italian origin signifying nobility or courtesy.

Please note that each surname's origin could be subject to various interpretations and may also have evolved significantly over centuries.

Gentile: Where does the name Gentile come from?

The surname Gentile originates from Italy and is largely rooted in Medieval culture. The term "Gentile" was commonly used to classify someone who was not Jewish, and signifies "the nations" or "of the nations" in Latin. The surname was often assigned to someone who acted like a gentile, or non-Jew, or someone who lived among gentiles.

In certain cases, the surname could also derive from the medieval personal name Gentile, originally bestowed on someone of gentle or noble birth. Individuals named Gentile in Italy included Saint Gentile of Assisi, a follower of Saint Francis, and Gentile da Fabriano, a famous painter in the 14th century.

Today, the surname Gentile is predominantly found in southern Italy, particularly in Calabria. It is also common across Argentina, the United States, and Brazil, countries that have seen large influxes of Italian immigrants. Despite its origins and traditional meaning, the surname today is shared by individuals of multiple different faiths and backgrounds, not just those of non-Jewish descent or gentle birth. It remains a popular surname among Italian-American communities.

Variations of the surname Gentile

The surname Gentile is of Italian origin and is derived from the term 'gentile' meaning 'noble' or 'refined'. This gives a hint of the social standing or persona of the original bearers. There are several spellings, variants, and surnames derived from the same origin as Gentile. Some of these include Genti, Gentil, Gentili, Gentilini, Gentilucci, Gentilomo, Gentilini, Gentilucci, Gentilomo, and Gentilcore.

In some cases, the surname may have also been derived from the given name Gentile, which was often bestowed in honor of Saint Gentile of Assisi, San Gentile da Fabriano, or possibly even the Gentile family, a noble house of Italy.

The surname Gentile can also be found in different forms throughout Italy depending upon regional dialects and historical influences. For instance, in Lombardy and Veneto, you may find Gentilini or Gentilomo, while in central Italy it's more commonly Gentili or Gentilucci.

Moreover, the surname has been geographically dispersed over time, leading to these varying forms, and has been carried to different countries around the world with immigrants, where it could have morphed further.

Famous people with the name Gentile

• Giovanni Gentile: An Italian philosopher, he was a key figure in Italian idealism.
• Carla Gentile: A Brazilian singer, songwriter and actress.
• Ted Gentile: He is popular for being a producer known for his work in television series and films such as “Criminal Minds” and “Crossing Jordan”.
• Mike Gentile: He is an American guitarist in a pop-punk band.
• Jean Gentile: French mathematician known for coining the term "Chaos Theory."
• Richard Gentile: A well-known plastic surgeon based in Chicago.
• Paul Gentile: An Australian rugby league player who played in the 1980s and 1990s.
• Tony Gentile: An award-winning Italian photojournalist.
• Michael Gentile: An Italian professional footballer.
• Joe Gentile: An American author and publisher. He has written several novels based on the pulp heroes The Phantom and The Green Hornet.
• Johnny Gentile: An Italian footballer.
• Enrico Gentile: He is an actor known for films like The Double Hour, The Demons of St. Petersberg, and Facing Windows.
• Robert "Bob" Gentile: An alleged mobster from Connecticut.
• Luigi Gentile: A professional Italian footballer.
• Tony Gentile: An Italian press photographer for Reuters.

Other surnames

GentilGentileschiGentiliGentiliniGentilucci