Surname Secord - Meaning and Origin

Secord: What does the surname Secord mean?

The last name Secord is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is believed to have emerged during the early Middle Ages in Britain. It is derived from the Old English words 'sae', meaning sea, and 'weard', meaning guard. Thus the surname essentially signifies ‘guardian of the sea’. It could also have been an occupational name given to individuals responsible for guarding the coastline or sea-based trading routes. As with many surnames, geographical locations play a crucial role in their dispersion. Thus, over many centuries, the Secord surname has spread to various parts of the world, including France and North America, where it is quite common today. Notable individuals with the Secord surname include Laura Secord, a Canadian heroine of the War of 1812, and former American politician, Richard Secord.

Secord: Where does the name Secord come from?

The last name Secord can be found all over the world today, as this is a very old and widespread surname. It is especially common in English-speaking countries, including the United States, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. It is estimated that there are currently about 10,000 people bearing this surname in the US.

The name Secord is thought to have originated in Scotland, though its exact origins remain unknown. It could be derived from the Scottish Occupational name Secert, which is a variation of the French word Sécret, meaning "secretary," or it could come from the french word secourd, which means "courageous" or "bold."

It is also common among people of French-Canadian backgrounds, with Quebec being the most common region. It is likely that the surname originated in what is now known as Quebec in the late 17th century, when a large quantity of French settlers moved to the region after it was taken from the British in the Seven Year’s War.

The last name Secord is a relatively common one, and continues to be spread throughout the english-speaking world. It has its roots in Scotland and France, and is also quite popular in Quebec.

Variations of the surname Secord

The surname Secord is believed to have originated in France. Its variants are Secourt, Sicord, Sicords, Sicoris, Sicort, Sikordes, Sikor, Sikord, and Sikors. There can be other spellings of the surname especially when it gets transliterated to other languages.

Secord is derived from two Old French words namely “se” and “cort”. "Se" is a derivative from the Latin word "secura" which means secure or safe and "cort" means courtyard. Therefore, the surname was used to identify someone who lived in a safe courtyard.

The surname is believed to have been first used to refer to someone who lived in trailer courts during the Middle Ages. During this time, most trailer courts were found in baronial cities and feudal towns and could also have been associated with the practice of squirearchy.

The surname is also found in other countries like England, Germany,and the U.S. taken by immigrants who adopted the name as is or modified it to their native languages. This means there could be other surnames belonging to the same origin. In Germany, for example, the surname spells Sesard, while in England variants of the surname are found such as Seecord, Sescord, Secordt and Sicard.

Secord is also found in many combined surnames such as Desecord, Besicord, Mesicord, Lesicord and Cescord. Given the fact that the surname originated in France, there could also be other variants of the name that are unheard of.

Famous people with the name Secord

• Laura Secord: Laura Secord (née Ingersoll; 13 September 1775: 17 October 1868) was a Canadian heroine of the War of 1812 who is known for her legendary walk of over 20 miles during the war to warn British forces of a pending American attack.
• Albert Secord: Albert Secord (March 3, 1799: May 13, 1862), was a British-American soldier and businessman during the early-1800s. He is best known for his involvement in the founding of the Secord Agency, a shipping and trading venture that operated in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada.
• Roger John Secord: Roger John Secord (born February 22, 1932) is an American attorney, businessman, and entrepreneur whose career in business and real estate has spanned more than 50 years.
• Paul Secord: Paul Secord (b. 1948) is an American academic and historian, known for his specialization in the history of the American Civil War.
• Wilmer Secord: Wilmer Secord (1922–2004) was an American theologian and former professor at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is best known for his research in the area of interpersonal relationships and communication.

Other surnames

Secor