Meaning: Its source is Theodoric, an Ancient Germanic name meaning "Power of the tribe."

This name is sometimes spelled TeriLyn or Teri Lyn.

Narrative: Theodoric is the direct ancestor of Derek and Dietrich, but gave rise to Terry through the intermediate Norman French name Thierri (which also engendered the modern French Thierry).

Though Terry is commonly used as a nickname for the Latin-derived male name Terrance, the two names evolved independently.