Surname Minor - Meaning and Origin

Exploring the Origin and Cultural History of Surname Minor through iGENEA DNA Test

The iGENEA DNA test offered me a unique opportunity to dive into the origin story and cultural history of my surname, Minor. The intense scrutiny revealed that the surname is intertwined with British history, boasts of famous individuals and has rich Irish, Scottish, and Scandinavian connections. This examination has successfully conferred a spectrum of knowledge upon me, making me more aware of my ancestry and historical lineage.

B. Minor

Minor: What does the surname Minor mean?

The last name Minor is of English, German, and Dutch origin. In English it was traditionally given as a nickname to the younger of two bearers of the same personal name, typically a son who had the same name as his father. The term "minor" was used to distinguish between the two, noting that one was younger or lesser in some way. This name was also used for someone who was smaller in size or stature, again stemming from the term "minor," meaning lesser or smaller. In German and Dutch, the name "Minor" might have originated as an occupational name for a miner or someone who worked in mines. The word "minier" is an old German term for mining. In the Middle Ages, surnames often reflected an individual's occupation, given region's communal recognition. Therefore, the surname “Minor” holds a variety of possibly meanings based on geographical locations and specific cultural practices.

Minor: Where does the name Minor come from?

The surname Minor is of English origin, deriving from the Middle English term "miner" used for someone who built mines, mainly military siege engines. It also has roots in the Latin term "minor" meaning smaller or less which was often used as a nickname for the younger of two bearers of the same personal name. A variant of the name, Menor, originated from Spain and Portugal.

In Europe, the surname Minor is most common in England and Germany today. In Latin American countries, the minor variant "Menor" is more prevalent. According to recent statistics, the Minor surname is most common in the United States, specifically in states including California, Texas, and Virginia. The surname is moderately frequent in African-American populations, possibly a legacy of enslaved Africans who adopted their owner's surnames. Its prevalence in the U.S is likely a reflection of historic immigration patterns from the UK and Germany. Given its English roots, it's also commonly found in other English-speaking countries such as Canada and Australia.

Variations of the surname Minor

The surname Minor is believed to be of English origin, particularly from Old English 'myne', which means ‘ore’ and was likely an occupational surname for a miner. Variations of the surname can include Minner, Minnerly, Minord, Minar, Minas, and Mina. Some other versions of the surname might even include different prefixes or suffixes, like Beminer, De Miner, O’Minor, and Minore.

There is also a possibility for the surname to be of French origin, derived from the Old French word 'menour', which means 'younger'. This could indicate that the surname might have originally been given to the younger of two bearers of the same personal name. In this case, it could have variations like Menor, Menard, and Menaud.

It is also worth noting that Minor can be found as a Jewish surname of which varients can include Minerowicz, Minerovic, and Minowicz.

Furthermore, the process of Anglicization could have lead to numerous spelling variations. The surname's spelling might have altered as families moved and languages changed over time. This surname's ethnic variations, which might differ somewhat in their spelling or pronunciation, could include Myner, Minore, Minar, Mynor, Minot, Minnard, etc.

Famous people with the name Minor

• Virginia Minor: She was a prominent 19th-century suffragist and noted advocate of women's rights.
• Art Minor: Former college football player who was drafted in the 7th round of the 1974 NFL draft.
• Ella Minor: Hall of Fame golfer, one of the first women to compete in the LPGA.
• Gregory Minor: Former Major League Baseball player who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Seattle Mariners.
• Albert Minor: Co-founder of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey.
• Lyle Minor: Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, musician, and professor of music at Indiana University.
• Eugene Minor: Retired professional basketball player who played for the Phoenix Suns in the NBA.
• Darnell Minor: Former NFL player who was a member of the Denver Broncos from 1996 to 1999.
• Vincent Minor: American conductor, composer, arranger, and professor of music at the University of Maryland.
• Harry Minor: Noted American businessman and philanthropist who was the president and CEO of the Minor Corporation.

Other surnames

MinohrMinovitzMinowitz