Surname See - Meaning and Origin
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Unlocking Ancestry Surprises: A See Family's Journey Through an iGENEA DNA Test
Embarking on a journey to unearth my ancestral past via an iGENEA DNA test, I found surprising revelations about my surname, See. Supposing it to be of European origin, I was stunned to unearth connections to the Middle East in my maternal lineage and a Jewish Sephardic lineage in my paternal side. This unraveling ancestry is a testament to a tale of migration, resilience, and cultural blend.
F. See
read moreSee: What does the surname See mean?
The surname "See" is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English term "sǣ," translating to "sea." This name was often bestowed upon individuals who lived near the sea or a body of water, indicating a geographical attribute of the bearer's residence. It could also possibly be given to sea-farers or fishermen, symbolizing their occupation. It is important to acknowledge that surnames have evolved over centuries and maybe influenced by various factors such as geography, occupation, or even physical characteristics. Also, the spelling of surnames might have been altered over the generations due to phonetic shifts and dialectical differences.
Order DNA origin analysisSee: Where does the name See come from?
The See common surname is most commonly found in Germany, with the highest concentrations in the states of Hesse, Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg. The name is also occasionally found in parts of Switzerland, Austria, and the Netherlands. The surname derives from the Middle High German “sehe,” which means “balm” or “resin,” likely referring to a past occupation involving the harvesting and sale of the resin.
In Germany, the surname can also appear as “Seh,” with the same meaning, and often was used as an alternate form of “See.” It is also spelled variously as “Zei” and “Zey.” It is widely used among German Americans whose families settled in the United States in the 19th century, and is among the top 5,000 most common surnames in the United States today.
Outside of Germany, the surname is especially prevalent in Australia, where it is one of the top 1,000 most common surnames. It is also common in countries throughout Latin America, likely the result of German immigrants who settled there during the 19th and 20th centuries. It is less common in the United Kingdom, but many admirable and successful people bear the See common surname, such as British physicist Joseph Seely and theologian John Seely.
Variations of the surname See
The surname See is of Germanic origin, and its variants can include See, Seele, Seel and Seeley. Spelling variations can also include Seel, Seeler, Seele, Seeley and Seely.
The earliest recorded spelling of the See surname was as "Lisarius See" dating back to 1453, recorded in the book called "German Genealogical Research" by Annette Kunselmann-Burgess.
See can also be an Americanized form of various German and Dutch surnames derived from the root word "segel", meaning ‘sail’ or ‘sailor’. Some of these variants include Segel, Segall, Segelman and Segelman. In Scotland, the name See may also be anglicized from the German word Seehausen, which means ‘a small lake or pond’.
In the United States, the surname See is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, California, and Texas.
Some other forms of the surname See are Sees, Seese, Seesing, Seesinger, Seeskin, Seeston, Seesman, Seester, Seessman, Seeselin, Seessinger, and Seets.
The surname See is also commonly found in the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa.
Famous people with the name See
- See Yim-Lee: World Champion martial artist and physical education instructor
- See Yan: actor and singer from Hong Kong
- Betsy See: Artist and sculptor
- Sheryl See: writer and former news anchor
- Arnold See: former professional American football player
- Jack See: former professional ice hockey player
- Kay See: short story writer
- Clayton See: former professional American football player
- Nate See: former professional American football player
- Ty See: Actor and film producer