The name Gerry originated from the medieval English masculine name Gerald, which was derived from the Germanic elements ger, meaning "spear," and waltan, meaning "to rule." It was initially a compound name formed from these two elements, indicating a powerful warrior or ruler.

In its earliest form, the name was spelled as Gerold or Gerhild, and it gained widespread popularity across Europe during the Middle Ages. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented the feudal landholdings in England under the Norman conquest.

The name's first known bearer was Saint Gerald of Aurillac, a French nobleman born around 855 CE, who later became a monk and founded the Benedictine abbey of Aurillac in the Auvergne region of France. His life and deeds were documented in the 10th-century hagiography "Vita Sancti Geraldi."

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Gerry or its variations. One of the most famous was Gerald of Wales (c. 1146-1223), a medieval chronicler and author who wrote extensively about the geography, history, and culture of Wales and Ireland.

Another prominent figure was Gerald Fitzgeralt, the 8th Earl of Kildare (c. 1456-1513), an influential Irish nobleman and leader of the Fitzgerald dynasty in Ireland during the Tudor period. He played a significant role in the political affairs of the time, often challenging English authority.

In the realm of literature, the name is associated with Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889), an influential English poet and Jesuit priest known for his innovative use of language and poetic style.

In more recent times, Gerry Adams (born 1948) is a well-known Irish politician and former president of the Sinn Féin political party, who played a significant role in the Northern Ireland peace process.

Finally, in the field of science, Gerardus Mercator (1512-1594) was a renowned Flemish cartographer and geographer, best known for developing the Mercator projection, a revolutionary cylindrical map projection that became widely used for navigation and cartography.