Surname Scarce - Meaning and Origin
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Scarce: What does the surname Scarce mean?
The last name "Scarce" is quite rare and its origins can be traced back to England. The term "scarce" itself means something that is not plentiful or is hard to come by. In the context of a surname, it doesn't necessarily signify a direct meaning related to the word's definition. It is likely that the name derived from a nickname or occupational title of an ancestor where surnames were used to distinguish individuals with common first names. As surnames evolved, they were often linked to physical characteristics, occupations, or geographical features. So, the surname "Scarce" may once have related to an element of the original bearer's profession or attributes. Furthermore, the exact meaning or association might be lost over time due to changes in language and societal norms. Today, individuals carrying the "Scarce" surname can be found mostly in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and a few other countries around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisScarce: Where does the name Scarce come from?
The last name Scarce is most commonly found in England and Australia. Scarce is an English surname of Norman origin.
It is believed to have first appeared in Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the 12th century. The name is derived from old French and means "a crossroads" or "a ford". The earliest known record of the name dates to 1175, when it was first used in a charter by William, the Bishop of York.
In England, the last name Scarce is particularly common in East Anglia, the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire. Records of the name Scarce may be found in counties such as Huntingdonshire and Norfolk since the 14th and 15th centuries.
In Australia, the last name Scarce is also quite common. It likely arrived there with the first settlers from England in the 19th century. Records of the name in Australia date back to the Victorian gold rush, and it is still common in some parts of the country today.
The last name Scarce is still in use today, though not as common as it once was. It is most prominent in England and Australia, though records may be found in other parts of the world as well.
Variations of the surname Scarce
The surname Scarce is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "scars" which means "little." Variations and spellings include Scarse, Scare, Scarless, Scarles, and Scarcely.
The variants of Scarce include Scarfe, Scarfes, Scarff, Scarffe, Scarffs, Scarce Las, and Scarcy. Scarcely is an alternate spelling meaning "infrequent." It is derived from the Old English version of scarce, "scarsli."
The surnames Scarless, Scarles, and Scarce Las are derived from the Old English root, "scars," but with added suffixes. Scarless is a variant of Scarce, meaning "having no scar." Scarles means "belonging to or of the Scarce family," and Scarce Las is a form of Scarce with the added suffix -las which is derived from the Anglo-Norman French word "lasse," meaning "ship."
Other variants of Scarce include Skars, Skarch, Skawe, Skarce, Scarsish, Scarsington, and Scarcly. Skars and Skarch are derived from the Middle English word "skarce," which means "uncommon." Skawe is likely derived from Old Norse, meaning "rocky." Skarce is a variant of Scarce, derived from Old French and Middle English.
Scarsish is a variant of Scarce combined with the Old English suffix "-ish," which means "belonging to" or "of the ___ family." Scarsington is a combination of the Old English word for Scarce and the Old English word "ing" meaning "son of" combined with the Old English root "-ton," meaning "enclosure or farmstead." Finally, Scarcly is also likely derived from Middle English and Old French, a variant of Scarcely likely through assimilation.
Famous people with the name Scarce
- Vanessa Scarce: American fashion designer and founder of the Wabi Sabi Lab women's wear label.
- Mike Scarce: British professional football player who featured for a number of English clubs from 1970 to 1986.
- Peggy Scarce: Australian dancer, choreographer, and television presenter who performed on leading variety and drama shows such as The Mavis Bramston Show and GTK.
- Sam Scarce: English cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1889 to 1903 as a right-handed batsmen and wicket-keeper.
- Ernest Scarce: American actor best known for his role in the 1958 film, Street of the Five Moons.
- Paul Scarce: Canadian-American painter and sculptor best known for his sculptures of skulls and other human figures.
- Captain William Henry Scarce: British civil servant who served with the Royal Navy in the early 19th century.
- William "Billy" Scarce: English professional football player who featured for Aston Villa in the 1890s.
- George Scarce: English professional football player who featured for many clubs in the late 19th and early 20th century.
- Paul Scarce, Jr.: American car racer who competed in NASCAR events in the late 1990s.