Surname Sermons - Meaning and Origin

Sermons: What does the surname Sermons mean?

The last name Sermons is believed to be of English origin and is considered a metonymic occupational surname. In the middle ages, occupational surnames were derived from the principal object associated with the activity of the original bearer. In this case, the term "sermon" refers to a religious talk that is given by a religious figure, predominantly a priest, pastor, or minister, suggesting that the original bearer may have been a preacher or someone associated with the religious service. The name may also have been assigned to someone known for delivering sermons or moral exhortations in a lay context, or for someone metaphorically given to moralizing or pontificating. However, the spelling and meaning of surnames have evolved over centuries, and different branches of a family may have variations of the same surname. Thus, the exact meaning can differ among people carrying the surname Sermons today.

Sermons: Where does the name Sermons come from?

The last name Sermons is most commonly found in the United States of America, particularly in the regions of South Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and Arkansas. It is also present in the Canadian province of Ontario.

The origin of the name Sermons is unclear. Some sources believe it to be derived from Saxon or Norman French words. The name may also have derived from a middle English word "seremon," which means a ministerial sermon.

The name Sermons is found more frequently among African-American families, perhaps because of the family’s close association with the Baptist Church. Sermons is a name often held by ministers and preachers in the South. The Sermons family continues to actively serve in many churches throughout the region, carrying on its family history in God's word.

Sermons is a very rare family name in the United States. It is not among the 1,000 most common surnames, as recorded in the US Census of 2000. However, in South Carolina, the amazingly high concentration of the Sermons family results in an estimated 600 individuals with this surname.

Variations of the surname Sermons

The surname Sermons is an English surname of French origin, and is literally translated to mean "preachers" or “teachers of religious teachings”. Historically, this surname was likely given either to someone who held the title of sermon-teller in their community or to a priest. There are a variety of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin that have evolved from this distinctive surname.

The most common variants of the surname Sermons include Sermon, Sermones and Sermoun. Additionally, the surname Sermons has been seen spelled as Sarmon, Sarmin and Sarmon. There are also some alternate surnames which could have originated from the same location. These include Sermonet, Sermond, Sermont, Scarmon, Scarmont and Sermiche.

Sermons is a habitational surname, which derived from the former Anglicized French surname Le Sarmonier and was originally found within the region of Normandy, France. Individuals bearing this surname likely settled in Britain before 1760. Records of the name are found within the area of British Isles, where the surname Sermons has been in existence for centuries and is first found on records in the county of Cornwall.

In addition to being found in the British Isles, the surname Sermons has been found in record books in Canada and the United States. Immigrants who bore the surname Sermons arrived to the northeastern states of America during the 1600s; whilst this migration reached peak during the mid-1800s.

Variants taken from:

• Sermon

• Sermones

• Sermoun

• Sarmon

• Sarmin

• Sarmon

• Sermonet

• Sermond

• Sermont

• Scarmon

• Scarmont

• Sermiche

Famous people with the name Sermons

• Hilary Sermons Couvillon: Graphic artist, illustrator, entrepreneur, and author from Georgia, US.
• Alfred Sermons: British actor and screenwriter.
• Herbert Sermons: Former Maryland Delegate and one of the thirteen Father of the Maryland State Constitution.
• Jeff Sermons: American bartender and actor best known for his role in HBO’s hit show True Blood.
• Willard Sermons: American sociologist known for his contributions to the sociology of knowledge.
• Arthur Sermons: British journalist known for his work during the Spanish Civil War.
• Joe Sermons: Former professional basketball player who has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, and New York Knicks.
• Leon Sermons: Jazz musician known for his biggest hit “Hey Joe” in 1962.
• Cynthia Sermons: American children’s book author famous for her book The Secret Garden.
• Testimony Sermons: American gospel recording artist known for his albums such as Heaven or Hell, Rise Again, and I Believe.

Other surnames

Sermon