The name Jarrad is a variant of the more common name Gerard, which has its origins in the Germanic language. The name Gerard is derived from the elements "ger" meaning "spear" and "hard" meaning "brave" or "hardy." It is believed to have originated in the 5th century AD, during the time of the Frankish tribes in Europe.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gerard can be found in the Vita Sancti Geroldi, a 10th-century hagiography depicting the life of Saint Gerald of Toul, who lived in the 7th century. The name was also mentioned in the Domesday Book, a survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, indicating its presence in medieval England.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the name Jarrad or its variants. One of the earliest was Giraldus Cambrensis (c. 1146-1223), a medieval Welsh cleric, scholar, and writer who wrote extensively on the history and geography of Wales and Ireland. Another prominent figure was Gerard of Cremona (c. 1114-1187), an Italian translator who played a significant role in introducing Greek and Arabic scientific works to the Latin West.

In the realm of art, Gerard ter Borch (1617-1681) was a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his genre scenes depicting the daily life of the Dutch upper class. Gerard Mercator (1512-1594), a Flemish cartographer and geographer, is renowned for creating the world map based on the Mercator projection, which revolutionized navigation.

During the Renaissance period, Gerard Thibault (c. 1574-1627) was a French architect and engineer who contributed to the design of several notable buildings in Paris, including the Palais du Luxembourg and the Église Saint-Gervais-et-Saint-Protais.