Géraud is the French form of Gerald. The name Gerald derives from the Germanic elements ger meaning "spear" and walt meaning "power, authority," giving the name the overall meaning of "power of the spear." Historical Context The Normans introduced the name to Britain, where it was used during the Middle Ages but eventually died out in England while remaining common in Ireland. It was later revived in the English-speaking world during the 19th century. In France, the form Géraud was borne by several medieval saints and notable figures. Notable Bearers Géraud has been the name of several prominent figures in French history. Géraud Duroc (1772–1813) was a French general who served as a close associate of Napoleon Bonaparte. Géraud-Pierre-Henri-Julien Bessières (1777–1840) was a French scientist and diplomat. Géraud de Cordemoy (1626–1684) was a philosopher, historian, and lawyer. Géraud Réveilhac (1851–1937) was a French general during World War I. Jules-Géraud Saliège (1870–1956) was a French Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. Géraud Sénizergues (born 1957) is a French computer scientist known for his work on the equivalence problem for deterministic pushdown automata. Variants and Related Forms Related names include the French variant Gérald and the feminine form Géraldine. The name also has cognates in other languages, such as the English forms Gerald, Gerry, Jerald, Jere, and Jerold, the German Gerald, and the Dutch Gerolt. Meaning: "power of the spear" (French form of Gerald) Origin: Germanic elements ger (spear) + walt (power, authority) Type: Given name, masculine Usage Regions: Primarily French