Surname Sherret - Meaning and Origin
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Sherret: What does the surname Sherret mean?
The last name Sherret is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Old English term, "Scirrethe," which translates to mean "bright." The Sherret family originated in the Western Isles of Scotland and their ancestors were a sept of the Clan Macleod of Lewis. In the 16th century, the name branched off and moved south into the Highlands, where it became quite common.
The Sherret name has seen several variations throughout the years, with some spelling variants including Sherrett, Sherrete, Shirre, and Sherete.
While the exact meaning behind Sherret is unknown, it is believed that the family name may be associated with the Gaelic word "serie," which means "bright". The family crest of the Sherrets features a stag's head against a yellow shield, indicating the bravery and nobility of the Sherret family. In Gaelic, the motto of the family is "A chruinneachadh a bhaith milleadh," which translates to "epitomizing noble victory."
The Sherret family has a long and proud history, and its members have been warriors, lords, politicians, and advocates over the centuries. Sherrets have served in the military since World War I when several members fought in battles on the Western Front.
Today, the Sherret family continues to live around the world, and its members remain proud of their Scotch-Gaelic heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisSherret: Where does the name Sherret come from?
The last name Sherret is most common today in the United States and Canada, primarily among those descended from Irish heritage. This surname is found in the British Isles, including Scotland and Ireland, but it is also found in other parts of the world in very small numbers, primarily areas with large Irish diaspora populations such as the United States, Australia, South Africa, and Canada.
In the United States, it is most commonly found in Pennsylvania and the eastern states, where many early Irish immigrants settled in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In Canada, it is most common in the eastern provinces such as Quebec, Ontario, and Nova Scotia, often in larger cities such as Montreal, Toronto, and Halifax.
The name is derived from Anglo-Norman origins, meaning “caretaker of the deer” in old English. As with many surnames, the original meaning has been lost to time, and today Sherret is seen as an Irish surname. It is speculated that the name was brought to Ireland in the wake of the Norman invasion in the late 12th century and adopted by the local population who were eager to demonstrate their allegiance to the new overlords.
The earliest known records of the name Sherret comes from the mid 14th century, when one William Sherret was recorded in a roll of a knightly family in London. In later centuries, Sherret families made their way to America and Canada, looking for new opportunities. Today, Sherret remains a moderately common surname in these countries, a testament to the strength of the Irish diaspora around the world.
Variations of the surname Sherret
The surname Sherret is a variant of the surname Sherratt, with various other spellings and alternative forms of the same origin. It is an English and Welsh patronymic surname, derived from a nickname for someone with bright or red hair. Another form of the surname is Sharitt or Sherrett, while variants include Sharatt, Sherat, Sherratt, Sheratt, Sharrett, Sharatt, Sheeret, Shereden, Sheredon, Sheredine, Sheradam, and Sheradon.
Sherrett and Sherratt are traditionally English, deriving from a place name in Shropshire, noted in the Domesday Book of 1086 as being someone's land holdings. It is related to Old English words such as scearu for 'sore' or 'pain' and hratte for 'fright' or 'terror'. Other spellings of the name indicate various locations within England, including Sheerade in Oxfordshire, Sheratone in Gloucestershire, and Shardene/Sherdene in Suffolk.
In Welsh contexts, the name has evolved from similarities in Welsh language elements, such as the words for 'hair,' soerth meaning 'reddish' and rhaid meaning 'praise.' This could indicate that the original nickname may have been given to someone with reddish hair, words for 'dark hair' were not used in this way. As a result, the name is still associated with the Welsh language elements, and variants such as Shorett, Shorehand, and Sharath.
Sherret is a distinct surname, although it can be used as a variant of the original form. It is a patronymic name derived from an English or Welsh nickname, and various other spellings and forms exist from the same origin, including Sharatt, Sheradon, Shereden, and Shardene.
Famous people with the name Sherret
- Lindsay Sherret: American track and field athlete
- John Sherret: Australian rugby union player
- Bradley Sherret: Canadian ice hockey player
- Johnathan Sherret: English characteristics of the 19th century
- Ernest G. Sherret: American lawyer and politician
- Conway W. Sherret: American baseball player
- Paul A. Sherret: Canadian soldier
- Edward Sherret: American politician
- Anna L. Sherret: American writer
- Robert R. Sherret: American politician