Surname Senior - Meaning and Origin
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L. Senior
read moreSenior: What does the surname Senior mean?
The last name Senior is of Latin origin, deriving from the Latin word "senior" which means "elder" or "older". It was traditionally used to distinguish the elder of two or more people sharing the same first name, often used in families where the son is named after his father resulting in a "Senior" and "Junior". It could also be used to indicate rank or status, particularly among nobility or clergy, showing someone of high rank or importance. Though widespread, the surname Senior is most commonly found in England and France, likely tracing back to the Norman conquest of England in the 1066. Consequently, bearers of the surname Senior may trace their ancestry back to these regions. Other variations of this surname include Seniors, Sinyard, Sinnett among others. The surname is considered fairly rare compared to other surnames. Like any other surname, there are numerous famous individuals with the last name Senior such as Jamaican musician Jacob Miller, whose full name was Jacob Miller Senior.
Order DNA origin analysisSenior: Where does the name Senior come from?
The last name Senior is most common today in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Australia.
The earliest recorded use of Senior as a surname dates back to the 13th century in the UK. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word 'seniōris', meaning elder, with the intention of distinguishing people of similar names within a family.
In the UK, the surname Senior is particularly popular in the East Midlands region, including Essex, Hertfordshire, Leicestershire, and Northamptonshire counties. The same holds true in the US, where the surname is more common in states such as Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
In Canada, variants of the last name Senior have long been popular in the Maritime Provinces, particularly Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The name also appears in the Canadian Prairies and British Columbia.
In Australia, Senior is an especially common last name among people of Canadian descent. As a result, it is found most frequently in the states of New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia.
All in all, the last name Senior is still quite popular, though with many variations. Despite the passage of centuries, the surname has kept its typical flair and remains a distinct marker of heritage.
Variations of the surname Senior
The surname Senior has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant in the English speaking world is Sainer or Sayner. This was the spelling used by the original family from which the name originates. Other common variants include: Sennar, Senner, Sinnar, Senner, Sennor, and Senor.
In Europe, the name is often spelled differently due to language differences. For instance, in French it is spelled Sénéchal, in Spanish it is spelled Senador, and in Italian it is spelled Senesi and Senso.
In Portugal, common variants include Senhor, Senhorio, and Senhoria. In Germany, it is spelled Senff and in Poland it is spelled Sendor.
Variations of the surname Senior can also be found in other countries, such as Australia and New Zealand. Surnames such as: Saynets, Saynert, Saynnert, Sainnet, Saynetts, and Saynette have all been attributed to the original Senior family.
Another variant is found in South African countries such as Angola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Namibia. This version is spelled Sinige.
The Senior surname has also been adopted by other cultures, including some in India. There, the name is spelled as Singh and is widely used among Sikh and Muslim people.
Overall, there are a number of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Senior. Depending on a person's cultural background, the name may appear in many different forms.
Famous people with the name Senior
- Samuel Senior: also known as Sir Samuel Waley Senior (1813-1875) was a British lawyer and judge who supported causes such as the reform of Indian civil service and prison reform.
- Gareth Senior: a British actor and stunt performer who has appeared in movies such as Quantum of Solace, Kingsman: The Secret Service, and Avengers: Age of Ultron.
- Ronald Senior: a British actor who had a successful acting career in much of the twentieth century, appearing in films such as Time Bandits, Clash of the Titans, and Doctor Who.
- Robert Senior: a British politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Pendle from 1970 to 1981.
- Percival Senior: an English cricketer who represented Middlesex and played eight Test matches between 1876 and 1892.
- Entonio Senior: a Grenadan footballer who represented his country in the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
- Jonathan Senior: a British explorer, best known for his expedition in the central African wilderness to investigate and identify species of bird of prey.
- Warren Senior: a British recording artist, songwriter and producer who has released several albums and EPs.
- Keith Senior: a British rugby league footballer who has played for numerous teams, including the England National Team.
- George Senior: a British stage and silent film actor who appeared on the stage from 1898 to 1912 and in films from 1915 to 1919.