Avery

Avery began as an English surname derived from medieval given names, chiefly the Norman Auberi, a form of the Germanic Alberich meaning elf ruler, and in some cases Alfred, from Old English elements meaning elf and counsel. Like many surnames it passed into use as a given name, first for boys and later for girls as well, so that it is now used for both sexes. The bacteriologist Oswald Avery, working at the Rockefeller Institute, led the experiments showing that DNA is the substance that carries genetic information. In the United States, Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center was named for the audio engineer and philanthropist Avery Fisher.