Surname Southern - Meaning and Origin

Exploring the Origins and Ancient Connections of the 'Southern' Surname through iGENEA DNA Testing

Embarking on a genetic exploration with the iGENEA DNA test, I uncovered a fascinating story about the roots and geographical distribution of the surname 'Southern'. The test pointed to Northwestern Europe as the originating point for this name and showed a lineage that weaves through thousands of years of human migration and settlement.

E. Southern

Southern: What does the surname Southern mean?

The surname Southern is of English origin and it generally tells something about where the original bearer of the name came from or resided. Specifically, Southern is a locational or regional name given to someone who lived in the south or was from the south. It most likely referred to individuals who came from the southern part of a region or country, or those who lived in or near the south. This is derived from the Old English “sūðerne” which simply means "southern". However, the surname might have also been occupational, used for a person who worked in a southern area. Like many surnames of this type, it began being used during the Middle Ages.

Southern: Where does the name Southern come from?

The last name Southern is most common today in the United States, as it is among the 250 most popular surnames across the country. The name has roots in England and is believed to have originated as a nickname given to someone who hailed from the English county of Sussex.

Over the years, the name has spread across the United States. Today, it is particularly common in the Southern states of Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Florida, as well as in states that were historically settled by Southern people like Texas, Virginia, and Oklahoma. It can also be found in California, even though the name is not as common in the West.

Aside from the United States, there are also people with the last name Southern scattered across the world, including England, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and Australia, though in all these places the surname is much less common than in the US.

So, for anyone looking for more on their Southern surname, there is evidence that the majority of people with the name come from the US, particularly from the Southern states.

Variations of the surname Southern

The surname Southern has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.

Variants of this name include Sothern, Southen, Suthern, Sutherne, Suthorne, and Suthern.

As this surname is of English origin, there are numerous English variants including Southern, Sothern, Southen, Suthern, Sutherne, Suthorne, Suthern, Southerland, Southland, Southeland, Sutherland, Suddon, Suden, Sudin, Soden, Sootin, Sowden, Sowdin, and Soathen.

The Irish variant of Southern is Ó Searrachain, which when translated means "descendant of Searrachan".

The variant form of the Scottish surname is Soutar, with English variants including Souther, Sotar, Sutter, and Souttar.

The Welsh version is Suetyr which has variants Suter, Soutter, and Sutem.

The German variant of Southern is Süder, and its variants include Suder, Sutter, Sudders, Sodders, Siders, Sudden, Sudens, and Sydin.

In France, the name has roots in the Old French Salmon which has variants Sallon, Salmonn, Salomon Sallomon, and Salomonne.

Variants of the Italian surname include Sutera, Soteri, and Soteris.

In Finland, variations of the surname include Sutter, Suoteri, and Suutari.

Finally, in Russia the variants of Southern are Sudarikov and Sudarikova, which are both patronymic forms of Sudarik, the Russian form of the name.

Famous people with the name Southern

• Beverly Maud Southern- Canadian artist.
• Anne Southern- British artist and model.
• Booker Taliaferro Washington- African-American educator and leader.
• William McCallum Southern- Canadian golf course architect.
• Ben Southern- American film director and producer.
• Chris Southern- British music executive and label owner.
• Coldren Southern- American sports executive.
• Cora Southern- American film actress.
• Dexter Southern- American singer-songwriter.
• Dorrance Hill Hamilton- American philanthropist and former CEO of CIGNA Corporation.
• Earnest Southern- American automotive and heavy equipment industry executive.
• Edwin Southern- British molecular biologist and biotechnologist.
• Ellen Southern- British actress and radio broadcaster.
• Everett Southern- American politician.
• Freda Southern- British film and television actress.
• George Southern- American sportswriter.
• Jane Southern- British pianist.
• Joe Southern- American general manager of the National Basketball Association.
• Lucas Southern- American actor and singer.
• Mary Joanne Southern- American pluralist and professor of education.
• Matthew Southern- British television producer and executive.
• Marko Southern- American actor.
• Simon Southern- British writer and art producer.
• Thomas Southern- British actor and director.
• Willie Southern- American basketball forward.

Other surnames

SoutheardSoutherSoutherlanSoutherlandSouthernlandSouthersSouthertonSouthey