Surname Söhren - Meaning and Origin

Söhren: What does the surname Söhren mean?

Söhren is a German last name which is derived from the Middle High German term sören meaning "sorrowful". It is thought that the name was originally given to someone with a somber and melancholic temperament, but over time it has come to represent endurance and strength in the face of adversity.

The name is also thought to have originated from the Germanic word “sohar,” meaning “clear” or “plain.” This may reflect a certain type of personality that is forthright and open about their feelings and emotions.

Today, the last name Söhren is most commonly found in parts of Germany and the Netherlands. It is not as common as some other German last names, but has been carried down for generations by those of German heritage.

The Söhren surname is still associated with strength and resilience, as it has been for many centuries. Many people with this last name are proud to bear the name and all it represents. This may explain why the name is still in use today and cherished by those who carry it.

Söhren: Where does the name Söhren come from?

The last name Söhren is most commonly found in German-speaking regions, particularly in northern Germany and the North Rhine-Westphalia region. It is also found in smaller numbers in Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. The name is of German origin, and is derived from the Old High German word “sohar,” meaning “freshwater spring” or “woods.”

In North Rhine-Westphalia, the majority of people with the Söhren surname trace their ancestry back to the village of Homberg/Efze in the present-day Hesse state of Germany. Historians believe the Söhren family was established here in the late 1700s. From the beginning of the 19th century, many have migrated from this area to the nearby towns of Frankenberg and Hillershausen, and some have even moved as far away as England and the United States.

Today, the Söhren family name is still mainly concentrated in Germany, with smaller numbers found in other European countries. There have been Söhrens living in the United States since the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but the name is much less common today.

Variations of the surname Söhren

The surname Söhren is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German phrase "sûren". It was a topographic name for someone who lived in a moist or marshy area or an ancient settlement near a body of water.

Various spellings of the surname Söhren exist including Soehren, Schöhren, Sohren, Soehren, Soehrens, Soehrin, Soerin, Soerins, Soering and Soerings.

Variants of the surname can be found around the world and are associated with different spellings and engagements of the name. In America, for instance, the variations Soehren, Soehrens, Soehrine, Soerin, Soering and Soerings are all considered variants of the name.

In the Netherlands the surname is spelled differently as Sohrens. Other variations in the Netherlands include Sohren, Sohrings and Souhrings.

In England, the variants are Sahrin, Soaring, Searing, Sehrin and Seering.

In other parts of Europe there are further variants, such as Switzerland where the variants are Shöhren, Löhren and Lehren, while Austria has Söhren, Soehren and Löhren.

Given the many global variations of the name, it is not unheard of for a person of German ancestry with the surname Söhren to find ancestors with similar sounding, but different-spelled names in the census records.

Famous people with the name Söhren

• Franz Söhren, German gymnast
• Martin Söhren, German actor
• Bärbel Söhren, German businesswoman
• Eugen Söhren, German sport shooter
• Heinrich Söhren, German professional golfer
• Arthur Söhren, German Schleswig-Holstein politician
• Eva-Marie Söhren, German calligrapher and bookbinder
• Claus Söhren, German classical archeologist
• Johannes Söhren, German political commentator
• Rebecca Söhren, German actress
• Hans-Günther Söhren, German composer
• Anne Söhren, German actress
• Alexander Söhren, German choir conductor
• Gotthard Söhren, German economist and sociologist
• Heinz Söhren, German entrepreneur and business consultant
• Bruno Söhren, German Emsland scientist
• Fritz Söhren, German weapons tank inspector
• Heinrich Söhren, German theater and film director
• Karl Söhren, German theologian
• Johannes Söhren, German pastor

Other surnames

Söhrens