Gertrude

Gertrude is a female given name which is derived from Germanic roots that mean "spear" and "strength". Throughout history, it has been borne by several notable individuals, including saints, queens, and literary characters.

Etymology

The name Gertrude is of Germanic origin. It is derived from the elements ger (spear) and þruþ (strength). The name was popular among various Germanic peoples in the early Middle Ages, and it was later reinforced by the popularity of St. Gertrude of Nivelles and St. Gertrude the Great.

Notable bearers

Several notable individuals throughout history have borne the name Gertrude, including:

• Gertrude of Nivelles, a 7th-century saint who was the abbess of the monastery at Nivelles in present-day Belgium.
• Gertrude the Great, a 13th-century saint and mystic who was a nun in the Benedictine monastery of St. Mary at Helfta, near Eisleben, Germany.
• Gertrude Jekyll, a British horticulturist, garden designer, artist, and writer.
• Gertrude Stein, an American novelist, poet, playwright, and art collector.

In literature

The name Gertrude has also been used for several characters in literature, including:

• Queen Gertrude, the mother of the title character in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet.
• Gertrude, a character in the Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

See also

• List of people named Gertrude
• Gertrude (disambiguation)

Gertrude Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? WikiMD's DocFinder can help find general and specialist physicians.	Latest articles Most recent articles Ongoing trials.