Where did the word gentle come from?

Answer 1

The Roots of the Word Gentelness - All sources point to Latin roots. Back there in Latin the word meant "family" and is related to our English words "genitals" with which we produce families, and "generation", the parents, children and grandchildren within families.

Even the word "gentile" is related, being those families of peoples not Jewish.

The sense as the word "gentle" came into French and English is also along the lines of a "good family." That is, being high-born and noble.

So a "gentleman" was a "nobleman" and then, just as now, "old money" was seen as being more understated. So in English the word "gentle" began to mean more reserved; calmer.

from http://podictionary.com/?p=195