Jermaine

Jermaine is an Americanized respelling of the French masculine name Germain which itself comes from an ancient Roman name “Germanus” meaning “brother” in Latin (derived from “germen” meaning “seed, branch, off-spring”). Although there were several early Roman citizens who bore the name Germanus, what really served to popularize the name by the Middle Ages were a couple of early saints. Germanus of Auxerre was a 4th-5th century bishop in Gaul (a Western European province of the Roman Empire) who was sent to the province of Britannia (England) after the Roman soldiers returned to Rome (which was then under Barbaric attacks). It was Germanus’ job to ensure the British people did not revert back to paganism by breaking from the Roman Catholic Church. Some historians believe that St. Patrick was one of his pupils (before St. Patrick was kidnapped and taken to Ireland). His cult grew during the Middle Ages and he was particularly revered in France. Adding additional saintly currency to the name Germanus in France was the 6th century St. Germain of Paris better known as “Father to the Poor” due to his generous almsgiving. During medieval times, St. Germain’s relics were carried down the streets of Paris in religious processions during periods of crisis (such as when the plague hit). It was common during the Middle Ages for parents to name their children after saints, and the French often adopted Germain (Germanus). African-Americans in the United States borrowed this old Latin/French moniker and put their own unique spelling stamp on it: Jermaine. Usage of the name Jermaine was influenced in large part by Jermaine Jackson, one of the “brothers” in the famous Jackson 5 singing group of the 1970s.