Surname Sherrer - Meaning and Origin
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Sherrer: What does the surname Sherrer mean?
The surname Sherrer is of French origin and emerged during the Middle Ages in the region known as Maine, where the family was established. The name is derived from the Old French word "serre", meaning "vise" or "clamp", hence, it indicates a person who worked as a maker of vices and clamps or likely an iron-worker or blacksmith. This classification of surname is known as an occupational surname, which was derived from the primary occupation of the bearer. During the Middle Ages, as the population was growing and people were traveling more frequently, it became necessary to adopt an additional name to differentiate between bearers of the same personal name. Thus, the practice of using occupational surnames was born. Many families, including the Sherrer family, started to use these surnames to identify themselves and their professions. As with many surnames, over centuries and through emigration, the spelling and pronunciation of the name have seen variations across different countries and regions.
Order DNA origin analysisSherrer: Where does the name Sherrer come from?
The last name Sherrer is most commonly found in the Midwestern and Southern United States of America. According to Census data, there are over 20,000 individuals in the United States who list the last name Sherrer on their census forms. The states with the largest population of Sherrers include Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, Arkansas, and Tennessee.
The area of the country where the Sherrer name is most common is the South. It’s possible that some of the original families who settled in this region of the country are descended from a German immigrant named Jacob Sherrer who arrived in Philadelphia in the 1700s.
It’s hard to determine the exact origin of a surname, but it’s likely that this name has its roots in the German language. It could be related to the German word “Schar” which means “spear” or “Sherre” which means “shield”. The name could have derived from a geographical area or occupation that was associated with the word “Schar” or “Sherre”.
The Sherrer family name can be found throughout the South in the United States and will likely continue to be a common surname. It has undoubtedly stayed the same throughout the generations and continues to stand for the same values and culture that it did when it was first introduced to the population.
Variations of the surname Sherrer
The surname Sherrer is of French origin, deriving from the given name Cherrier, which means "oak tree". Variants of the name include Sharratt, Sherratt, Sharrod, Sheerrod, Sharrott, Sherrit, sherrat, sherratt, Sharrette, Sharrod, Sherrote, Sheerwright, Sherewright and Scearce.
The spelling of Sherrer varies in different parts of the world. In the United States, it is usually spelled Sherrer, while in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe, it is generally spelled Sharratt or Sherratt. The name is also found in Australia and New Zealand, where it is usually spelled Sherratt or Sharrod.
Variants of the surname Sherrer can also be seen in the form of Sherer, Sherrard, Sherrington, Sherwood, Sherwin, Sherwooden, Shearwood, Shearwooden, Sherworth, Shearworth, Shervinton, Shervave, Shearvave, Sharve, Shearve, Sheriff and Sheariff.
In addition, alternate spellings of the surname include Sherred, Sherrith, Sharrott, Sherout, Shirrer, Sherer, Sherrard, Sherered, Sherrod, Sherwooden, Sherewooden, Sherowooden, Sherrowooden, Shearwooden, Sherwooden, Shearod, Shearatt, Shearat, Sherrat, Sharrat, Sharrot and Sharredo.
Overall, the surname Sherrer is a variant of the French given name Cherrier. It has many different spellings and forms, including Sherer, Sherrard, Sherrington, Sherwin, Sherwood, Sherwooden and more. This name is commonly found in the United States, United Kingdom and various other countries.
Famous people with the name Sherrer
- Stephen Sherrer: former American professional basketball player
- Larry Sherrer: American existing artist
- Bill Sherrer: musician and songwriter best known for writing the Grammy Nominated song "Crazy for You"
- Naomi Sherrer: award winning American film director
- Arthur Sherrer: former professional American football player
- Keith Sherrer: former American football linebacker
- Sara Sherrer: lead singer of the post-rock/space rock band Bardo pond
- Ellen Sherrer: award winning American author
- Michael Sherrer: American televsion producer and executive producer with credits on shows such as “The Biggest Loser”
- James Sherrer: advertising executive, known for his life-long contributions to the American advertising industry