Surname Cilliers - Meaning and Origin

Cilliers: What does the surname Cilliers mean?

The surname Cilliers is of French origin, more specifically from the French region of Lorraine. It is widely believed to have come from the old French word 'cellier', denoting a storeroom or larder. Thus, someone named Cilliers could have originally held the occupation of a storekeeper or a steward.

Cilliers is quite prevalent amongst the Afrikaans-speaking community of South Africa as it is among descendants of Huguenots, French Protestants who fled religious persecution in the 17th century. Many Huguenots migrated to countries such as South Africa, and their surnames, like Cilliers, have largely been preserved within these communities.

Over time, the spelling and pronunciation of the name may have changed according to localization and dialect, but the roots remain the same. Therefore, the last name Cilliers generally signifies an ancestral occupation as a steward or storekeeper and a lineage tracing back to the French Huguenots.

Cilliers: Where does the name Cilliers come from?

The last name Cilliers is of French origin. It evolved from the personal name "Cyrille," derived from the Greek "Kyrios," meaning "lord." The surname was first found in Dauphiny (French: Dauphiné), a former province in southeast France, where the family held a family seat from ancient times. Variations of the name include Ciller, Cillier, Cilliers, Cyller, Cyrille, Cyriller, and many more.

In the 17th century, some members of the Cilliers family migrated to South Africa, where the name became well established. Today, Cilliers is particularly common in South Africa, among both Afrikaans and English-speaking communities. Notable people with this surname include Naomi Cilliers, a South African cell biologist, and Charl Cilliers, a town named after a Boer War commandant. The surname may also be found, although less commonly, in France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and other parts of the former French colonial empire.

Variations of the surname Cilliers

The surname Cilliers originates from French during the Norman invasion. It is a derivative of the name Cecilia or Cecil. The various spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin include:

- Cilliers in its original form

- Cillier without the final ‘s’

- Cilliar described as an anglicized form of Cilliers

- Cillieres, Cillieris and Cilliery are also variations practiced in different regions.

Other possible variants can include Ciellier, Cielliers, Cellier or Celliers which emerge from the alternate spellings related to the 'C' being replaced with 'Ce' or 'Ci'.

In many cases, the origin of the surname is said to be associated with the Cecil family, who held an essential role in British history. Cecil is another variant of Cilliers but it represents mainly a first name in English-speaking countries. This is largely due to the numerous spelling changes as this name passed from France to England during the Norman conquest.

Please note that variations can significantly increase in multilingual societies due to different pronunciation and transcription habits among different languages and dialects.

Famous people with the name Cilliers

• Vicky Cilliers: A parachute instructor survivor of a murder-attempt by her husband Emile Cilliers, whose story caught international attention.
• Emile Cilliers: A former army sergeant convicted of attempted murder of his wife Vicky Cilliers, a high-profile crime that received substantial news coverage.
• Jean-Marie Cilliers: A South African rugby player who played as a center for the South Africa national team.
• JP Cilliers: A reputable South African cricketer, who played at the domestic level for various teams.
• David Cilliers: A notable South African winemaker and owner of the Cilliers Wine Cellar.
• Stefan Cilliers: A well-known South African swimmer, who represented his country at various international championships.
• Marissa Cilliers: An acclaimed South African actress best known for her roles in local film and television productions.
• Lize-Marié Cilliers: A rising South African soprano known for her opera performances.
• Kobus Cilliers: Founding member of the South African Renewable Energy Council and recognized for his contributions to the renewable energy sector. It should be noted that Cilliers is not a widespread surname, thus famous individuals with this name are mainly found in South Africa.

Other surnames

CillieCillier