Historical FigureEnglish1141 – 1210
Gervase of Canterbury
Medieval chronicler and historian at Canterbury Cathedral
Biography
A 12th-century English monk and chronicler at Canterbury Cathedral who recorded significant historical events and architectural details of his time. His chronicles are important primary sources for understanding medieval English history.
Quick Facts
Category
Historical Figure
Nationality
English
Born
1141
Died
1210
Thinking about the name
Gervase
Latin origin
“The English form of the Latin Gervatius, meaning uncertain but possibly Germanic in ultimate origin. Gervase is most famously associated with Saint Gervase, an early Christian martyr, and gained prominence through religious veneration in medieval England. The name carries a scholarly, antiquarian quality befitting its biblical and liturgical heritage.”