Surname Shersby - Meaning and Origin
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Shersby: What does the surname Shersby mean?
The surname Shersby is derived from an Anglo-Saxon name borne by people who would have resided in the area now known as Sheerness in Kent, England. There were several locations that formed the origin of this surname, including Sheerness, Shuraby and Sheeringes.
The name Sheerness is thought to have originated from the Old English words ‘sciran’ (bright) and ‘eg’ (island), meaning "shining island". In its early days, the area was an important commercial and military port. This would explain why some Shersby family members had alphabetical surnames such as Sheerstone, Shiersby and Shuraby.
The Shersby surname is an occupational surname, derived from the Middle English word ‘shire’ which meant “guardian of the castle or watchman of the fortress”. It is likely that individuals bearing this surname were local guards or wardens to watch over the land around the Sheerness area.
The Shersby surname is now quite widespread and can be found in many countries, particularly in the United States. The Shersby line has had a strong presence in Western Europe for centuries, dating back to around the 12th century.
For numerous generations, the Shersby name has held a significant presence in and around the Sheerness area, and today many members of the Shersby family continue to live there and carry the proud surname of their ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisShersby: Where does the name Shersby come from?
The surname Shersby is most commonly found in the UK today. There are records of the Shersby family in England dating as far back as the 12th century. This family is believed to have come from the northwest region of England, possibly Cumberland or Northumberland.
The Shersby name is most prevalent in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. In any given year, the surname accounts for just over 1,000 people in the UK, although this number fluctuates depending on the year and location. In the United States, there are also records of people with this surname, mostly from British descent that have emigrated since the 1700s. However, these numbers are much lower than in the UK.
The name is derived from the Old English word “schere” which means “shear." As such, the name Shersby has been interpreted as meaning “someone who shears sheep.” Therefore, it is possible that the family may have belonged to a guild of those who sheared sheep, or may have been shepherds. Alternatively, the name may have referred to someone who made shears or scissors.
The variation to the name Shersby in the UK is the spelling “Sharpsby.” However, this is a less common spelling and is only found in a handful of counties. Moreover, there are a few other surnames in the UK that have similar sounding spellings, such as Sharpsbury and Shersley. A final variation of the name is Shelbourn, which is found primarily in Devon.
Variations of the surname Shersby
Shersby is an old Anglo-Saxon surname that originated in England. It has several variants and spellings, including Shiersby, Shearsby, Shairsby, Shersbee, Shersbey, Shersbie, Shersby, Sharzby, Scharsby, and Chearsby.
Shersby is derived from the Old English words sceard or sceir, which mean ‘rough’ or ‘shaggy', and by, a hill or thorp. Thus, the original meaning of the surname Shersby was the ‘dweller on the rough hill’.
Variations of the surname include Shearsby, Shiersby, Shairsby and Shersbee, which have been used more commonly in in the United States. Additionally, the surnames Shersbey, Shersbie, Shersby, Sharzby, Scharsby, and Chearsby have been used in Great Britain.
The earliest reference to the surname Shersby can be found in the 1176 Pipe Rolls that exist from the period of William I of England, more commonly known as William the Conqueror. The records noted a Hugh de Sheresby, who had served at the Earl of Richmond’s court. Several more mentions were documented in the following years, including a William Shiersby in 1205, Richard Shersbee in 1210, and William Sheresby in 1240.
The Shersby name continues to be used today, and is found in numerous parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Shersby
- Emily Dobson Shersby: is an actress best known for her work on American Crime (2015) and Hart of Dixie (2011).
- Joe Shersby: an American producer and director who has worked on such films as The Dark Crystal (1982) and Star Trek (2009).
- Harry Shersby: a British pianist who has performed with the London Symphony Orchestra and appeared as a featured soloist at the Royal Festival Hall.
- Jack Shersby: a Canadian actor and voice actor who starred in the television series Ready or Not (1997-2002).
- Annabelle Shersby: a British actress known for her performances in Coronation Street (1981-1985) and EastEnders (1985-1987).
- Paul Shersby: an Australian author and illustrator, his works include Collins My First Picture Dictionary (1994).
- Elizaveta Shersby: a Russian-born pianist who is a professor at the Moscow Conservatory of Music and a prizewinner of numerous international competitions.
- Sarah Shersby: an American writer, director, and producer known for her work on the television series The West Wing (1999-2006).
- Mark Shersby: an English musician and producer who is best known for his work as a drummer for the band Take That (1991-2006).
- Thisbe Shersby: an American painter who is currently based in New York City and whose work is exhibited internationally.