From Old French 'genterise' (noble birth), from Latin 'gentīlis' (of the same clan) — the social class defined by good breeding.
People of good social position, specifically the class of people next below the nobility in position and birth; well-born and well-bred people.
From Old French 'genterise, genterie' (noble birth, rank, nobility), from 'gentil' (high-born, noble), from Latin 'gentīlis' (of or belonging to a clan or gens), from 'gēns' (clan, race, family), from the root 'gignere' (to beget). This traces back to PIE *ǵenh₁- (to produce, to beget), the same prolific root behind 'genial,' 'generate,' 'genius,' and 'kin.' The PIE root produced Greek