Surname Seymour - Meaning and Origin

Fascinating Journey Into Ancestry: My Experience with iGENEA DNA Test and Seymour Lineage

Imagine exploring your ancestral roots and uncovering the history behind your surname through a simple DNA test. That's exactly what I experienced with the iGENEA DNA test. Gaining insights into my surname, Seymour, and connecting with others bearing the same was both educating and intriguing.

S. Seymour

Seymour: What does the surname Seymour mean?

The surname Seymour is of Norman origin and was introduced into England after the Norman Conquest in 1066. It is derived from the Old French words "saint" and "maur," which mean "Saint Maurus." Saint Maurus was a disciple of St. Benedict and is known as the patron saint of various groups, including coppersmiths, cobblers, and soldiers. Over time, "Saint Maur" evolved into the surname "Seymour." This surname is traditionally associated with nobility, as the Seymour family held the title of Duke of Somerset in the English peerage. Key figures with the Seymour surname include Jane Seymour, the third wife of King Henry VIII, as well as British explorer and colonial governor Sir Edward Seymour. Despite its noble roots, the Seymour surname is now common throughout the English-speaking world. The meanings associated with this surname emphasize religious dedication, service, and leadership.

Seymour: Where does the name Seymour come from?

The last name Seymour is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. It is particularly prevalent in the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire and Hampshire. The surname has also spread to other countries, including Australia, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa.

The name Seymour is said to have derived from an old Norman place name derived from the Old French word seigneur. It is usually a surname of English, Scottish, and Irish origin. It is likely that many variants of the name appeared in the Middle Ages and evolved over time. The common spellings of the last name today are Seymour, Seymore, Symore, and Seymor.

The surname Seymour is strongly associated with prominent British leaders. Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset was the Lord Protector of England during the reign of Edward VI. The Seymour family was an important and influential noble family in England in the 16th century. In modern times, several prominent figures have borne the Seymour surname, including the English actor and model Richard Seymour and the British army commander Sir Alfred Seymour.

Overall, the last name Seymour is still common in the United Kingdom today. While it has spread to other countries and is no longer as closely associated with the ancient Seymour line, it still carries a certain prominence in British society.

Variations of the surname Seymour

The surname Seymour has variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin including Seymoure, Seymouer, Seymor, Seeamour, Seeamouer, Seamor, Semour, Siemour, Simoure, Simeour, Simor, Simeur, Simour, Simouere, Symour, Symoore, Seamore and Simour. These variations of the surname Seymour have many different origins, including French, English, Irish and Scottish.

The French variant of the surname Seymour is spelled Seymoue, which originated in Normandy and derives from a personal name picked from the 6th century Latin words “semos” meaning “good” and “marus” meaning “servant” or “servitor”. This French surname followed the Normans to England, where it later became adapted as Seymoure.

The English variant of the surname Seymour is from an Old English placename originating from a village of the same name near Northampton in the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English words “sgumar” meaning “victory” and “loh” meaning “ground”.

The Irish variant of the surname Seymour is derived from the Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Shimirin, which was a variant surname located in counties Sligo and Leitrim.

The Scottish surname Seymour is also derived from a place name located in Berwickshire, Scotland. It was given to a son who lived near this location.

All these different spellings of Seymour also had variant spellings, such as Seeamour, Seeamouer, Seamor, Simour, Seamore and Simour. These spellings are all derived from the same origin, which is taking a patronymic name from a father’s name, such as Simon or Siemon.

In conclusion, the surname Seymour has many different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common include Seymoue, Seymouer, Seymor, Seeamour, Seeamouer, Seamor, Simour, and Seamore. These spellings derive from the different origins of the surname Seymour, which range from French, English, Irish and Scottish.

Famous people with the name Seymour

• Jane Seymour: She is an English actress known for her roles in several popular television series such as Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Wedding Crashers and Live and Let Die
• Mary Seymour: Mary is an American painter and the daughter of artist Wolfgang Poehl.
• Scott Seymour: Scott is an American musician and producer who has worked with the likes of Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, Ozzy Osbourne, The Rolling Stones, and Whitney Houston.
• David Seymour: David is a British television writer and producer who is known best for his work on British sketch comedy shows such as The Fast Show and Unnatural Acts.
• Stephanie Seymour: Stephanie is an American model and actress who rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s.
• Richard Seymour: Richard is an American author and political commentator who is a popular figure among those interested in left-wing politics.
• Horatio Seymour: Horatio was an American politician who served as the 18th Governor of New York from 1853 to 1855.
• Everett T. Seymour: Everett is an American economist who was the architect of the U.S. government's war on inflation in the 1970s.
• Frances Seymour: Frances is an American conservationist and activist who has dedicated her life to protecting the environment and advocating for the rights of indigenous peoples.
• Harry Seymour: Harry is a British air force officer who served in the Second World War. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in recognition of his service.

Other surnames

Seymore