This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Gentile family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Gentile Family History

Gentile Surname Meaning

Italian: from the personal name Gentile a continuation of Late Latin Gentilis from Latin gens (genitive gentis) ‘tribe family stock’ meaning ‘of the same stock’ and then ‘non-Christian pagan’; as a medieval name it was an omen or well-wishing name with the sense ‘noble courteous’ also ‘delicate charming graceful’ (Italian gentile).

In some cases the surname may have arisen from a nickname sometimes possibly ironical from the same word. English: variant of Gentle.

Jewish (Ashkenazic from northern Italy): nickname or metronymic from Italian gentile ‘noble delicate’ (see 1 above).

See also Heifetz.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Gentile family from?

You can see how Gentile families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gentile family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Gentile families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 4 Gentile families living in London. This was about 50% of all the recorded Gentile's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Gentile families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gentile surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Gentile ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Gentile. 100% of Gentile women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Gentile | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    100%

What Gentile family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 25,000 census records available for the last name Gentile. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gentile census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gentile

Passenger Lists

There are 15,000 immigration records available for the last name Gentile. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Gentile immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Gentile. For the veterans among your Gentile ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gentile military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gentile family history

Discover More

What is the average Gentile lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Gentile life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Gentile in 1944 was 37, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gentile

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gentile ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Gentile family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial