Surname Shirer - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Shirer: What does the surname Shirer mean?
The last name Shirer is of English origin and was originally an occupational surname. The name was likely given to someone who sheared sheep, or a tailor who cut cloth, as it is derived from the Old English word "scir" and the Middle English word "schere" meaning "shears" or "scissors". This association with sheep shearing, a common profession in medieval times, would have made the name quite common in regions with heavy wool production. Over time, the pronunciation and spelling morphed into the modern-day "Shirer". Like many surnames, this name could also potentially denote a place of residence. However, the overall meaning of the Shirer is associated with the profession of shearing, indicating it belongs to the larger category of European occupational surnames. It should be noted that many Americans with the last name Shirer could be descendants of immigrants who anglicized their original last names to better fit in.
Order DNA origin analysisShirer: Where does the name Shirer come from?
The surname SHIRER is commonly found throughout the United States. It can be particularly associated with Pennsylvania and the East Coast of the United States, as a number of individuals with this name have roots in the area that stretches from Pennsylvania to Maryland.
The surname SHIRER may have originally derived from the German word "scheren", which means "to shear". This suggests that the surname was likely derived from an occupational origin, with individuals bearing this name believed to have been involved in the wool-trade, as wool shearers.
In recent times, the last name SHIRER has been found distributed all across the United States, from California in the West to Florida in the South, and in all of the states in between. The largest concentrations of individuals bearing this surname can be found in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida and Ohio.
In modern times, those bearing the last name SHIRER are likely to be the descendants of German immigrant families, who traveled to the United States in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Today, the surname SHIRER is a relatively common name across the United States, as these immigrant families have spread across the country, and passed their family name down through the generations.
Variations of the surname Shirer
Shirer is a surname of German, Anglo-Saxon and French origin, and is most commonly found in the United States and Germany. It is an occupational surname, derived from the word "schreiber," which means "scribe" or "secretary."
Variants of the surname Shirer include Shire, Shirer, Scheirer, Shier, Shyr, Shireman, Shierman, Scheier, Scheierman, Scherer, and Scherrer.
The surname was Anglicised into "Shirer" in the United States. German and French versions of this surname are Scheier, Scheiermann, and Scherer. In England and Scotland, Scheire, Schyrer, Schier, and Schire are also variants.
Different spellings of Shirer include Schirer, Schyre, Shierer, Shyrer, Shearer, Shere, Scherer, Shure, and Shyer.
Surnames derived from Shirer include Share, Sharer, Cher, Sherman, Shearman, Shearman, and Sherrman. The surname Sheerman is a German and Jewish surname deriving from Shirer. Sheman and Sherman are variants of this surname.
In conclusion, Shirer is an occupational surname of German, Anglo-Saxon and French origin, with numerous variants and spellings. Included are Shire, Shier, and Scheiermann, as well as related surnames such as Sherman and Shearman.
Famous people with the name Shirer
- William Shirer: Journalist and author famous for his book The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich and as a foreign correspondent for CBS during World War II.
- Lori Shirer: American TV and film producer and writer.
- April Shirer: Former ESPN college basketball analyst and radio host.
- Emily Shirer: Actress and voice actress known for her works in the feature films Sniper: Reloaded and A Light of Hope.
- D.J. Shirer: American DJ, record producer, and musician known for his works as a hip-hop lyricist and producer.
- Stephen Shirer: American singer-songwriter, composer, and guitarist, known for his works with the bands The Clean and Friend.
- Sean Shirer: Canadian sound designer and record producer, known for his works on films such as X-Men, The Day After Tomorrow, and The Watchmen.
- Chris Shirer: American actor, screenwriter, director, and cinematographer, best known for his work on the films The Sword and the Sorcerer and The Final Terror.
- Andrew Shirer: American novelist and short story writer.
- Laura Shirer: Award-winning American documentary filmmaker and executive producer, best known for her work on the Discovery Channel series Deep Impact.