Surname Sherborn - Meaning and Origin

Sherborn: What does the surname Sherborn mean?

The origin of the last name Sherborn is of Old English origin. The name is a locational or habitational name derived from the place names of two medieval English towns - Sherborne in Dorset and Saxon Sherburn in Yorkshire whose names derive from Old English.

The Dorset place name is recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 998, written as Scerburne, and suggesting the meaning of 'bright stream', derived from the Old English elements 'scir' meaning 'clear' or 'bright' and 'burna' meaning 'stream'.

The Yorkshire place name is recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086 as 'Scireburn', and suggesting the meaning of 'bright stream', thence derived from the Old English elements 'scir' meaning 'clear' or 'bright' and 'burna' meaning 'stream'.

The surname is now most widespread in the South and Midlands of England, but is also common elsewhere. It is quite a rare surname, with only 82 Sherborn families being recorded in the 1881 census of England and Wales.

Sherborn: Where does the name Sherborn come from?

The last name Sherborn is common in many places throughout the world, but is especially popular in the United States and United Kingdom. In the United States, it is most commonly found in the New England states, specifically Massachusetts and Connecticut, as well as states with large immigrant populations, such as New York and California. In the United Kingdom, it is frequently encountered in the south of England, especially in London and its surrounding area.

The surname most likely has its origins in Sherburn, which is the name of several villages in England, and their associated parishes. Anglicised versions of the name are commonly found in many records and documents from the Middle Ages onwards, especially in England. It's also common to find spellings such as Sharborn, Shearborn, and other variants.

In the United States, Sherborn typically began appearing in records in the mid-18th century. Most of those with the last name arrived as migrants from England, Ireland, and Germany, although some American Indians have also taken up the surname too.

Sherborn is not particularly common today, but it can be found often enough in certain places to make it recognizable. Despite its rarity, it is still a recognizable and durable surname, one that is likely to persist for decades to come.

Variations of the surname Sherborn

The surname Sherborn is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is derived from the Old English words ‘scir’ and ‘burna’, meaning ‘clear stream’. Variants of this surname include Scherborn, Sherbourne, Shirley, Shurborne, and Sherburne. Additionally, some historical documents as well as records from the United States Census list the surname as Shorbourn, Sherbourn, and Shreiburn.

Surnames derived from the same origin are generally similar in meaning or even in exact spelling. Sherborn has many variants or even different surnames that have the same origin. Examples include Shereburn, Sherburn, Sherburne, Shurburn, and Shearburn.

Spellings of the surname Sherborn can also include sheraburn, sherburn, sherborne, shurburn, Shearburn, shurburne, and shirbourn. This can be due to variations in regional dialects, as well as general ignorance of proper spelling, and the influence of shorthand and abbreviation.

The Sherborn surname has many alternate spellings and derivatives. Described above are some of the primary variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. However, one should be aware that there may be more that are not listed.

Famous people with the name Sherborn

• Charles Sherbon: British geophysicist and oceanographer best known for his work on the Barrow Submarine Canyon and the structure of the continental shelf.
• Griffin Sherbon: Australian representative rugby league footballer who represented for Queensland in the late 1940s.
• Matt Sherbon: American professional baseball pitcher who was instrumental in leading his high school team to the Michigan State championship.
• Rebecca Sherbon: award-winning multi-disciplinary designer whose work includes a range of interactive and experiential installations, works, and mural projects.
• Brad Sherbon: American long-distance runner who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics and 2005 IAAF World Championships.
• Henry Sherbon: English actor who has appeared in Doctor Who, Only Fools and Horses and numerous other films and television shows.
• Robert Sherbon: Australian musician and entertainment industry veteran who is best known as a founding member and vocalist of the Yothu Yindi band.
• Jonathan Sherbon: British cartoonist and illustrator who has produced work for DC Comics, The Guardian, and other notable publications.
• Joanne Sherbon: British food writer whose books include Cooking with Love and The Bride to Be Cookbook.
• Olivia Sherbon: feminist theorist credited with popularizing the thinking of French feminist Simone de Beauvoir.

Other surnames

SherbondySherbourne