Surname St. Cyr - Meaning and Origin
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St. Cyr: What does the surname St. Cyr mean?
The surname St. Cyr is of French origin and typically signifies a geographical location. The name is derived from Saint Cyr, a town in central France, known for its connection to the story of the martyr Saint Cyr and his mother Saint Julietta. The story of these saints is shrouded in legend, with Saint Cyr honored as one of the youngest martyrs in early Christian history.
Like many surnames that indicate a place of origin, the St. Cyr name may have been adopted by individuals or families who originally hailed from the town of Saint Cyr. In French, "Saint" means "holy" and "Cyr" is a personal name, making the literal translation along the lines of "holy Cyr". In this case, "Cyr" is referencing Saint Cyr.
Moreover, it is also possible that the name was used to signify a spiritual connection or devotion to Saint Cyr as it was not uncommon to adopt the names of revered saints. Over time and generations, this place name or signifier of devotion would then become a familial surname, passed down to successive generations.
Order DNA origin analysisSt. Cyr: Where does the name St. Cyr come from?
The last name St. Cyr is most common in France. According to the latest census, the name St. Cyr is the 23186th most popular surname in France, and is distributed throughout thirty-nine of the ninety-six sub national divisions in the country. It is particularly common in the regions of Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, together accounting for more than one third of all individuals with the name. In Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the name is most prevalent in the departments of Meurthe-et-Moselle, Vienne, and Loire-Atlantique. In Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the name is most prominent in Ain, Drôme, and Loire.
Outside France, the name is much less common, with significant populations found in the United Kingdom and former French colonies in Canada, The United States, Mexico, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Outside the Francophone world, there is significant population reported in the Netherlands and Germany.
In the United States, the majority of people with the name St. Cyr live in large metropolitan cities such as Los Angeles, New York City, Houston, and Miami.
Overall, the last name St. Cyr is likely to be encountered most frequently in France, with populations in other countries being much smaller and localized.
Variations of the surname St. Cyr
The surname St. Cyr is said to have descended from the Gallo-Roman family of the name Siriacus and the Latin personal name Sirius. It is widely considered to be a French surname with multiple variants and spellings, most of which share the same origin.
Variant spellings of St. Cyr include St. Cyre, St. Cierre, St. Sire, St. Syre, St. Sierre, St. Syer, and St. Cyer. Surnames of similar origin include Cir, Cyre, Cire, Sire, Syre, Ciere, and Syer.
The multiple variants of St. Cyr could also indicate French noble ancestry since historical record indicates Saint-Cyr was once the name of several manors in France. People with multiple spellings of the name may have a connection to St.-Cyr-sur-Loire which was named after the Latin Saint Quiriacus. Quiriacus was a 4th-century bishop who became a patron saint in France.
The variant spellings of St. Cyr often indicate one of two French provinces, Normandy or Burgundy. Those with the surname Saint-Cyr derive their name from the Port-Saint-Cyricir commune in Normandy while those with the surname Saint-Cire have descended from the commune of Vitrey-Saint-Cire in Burgundy.
In terms of immigrant waves, mostly due to political and religious persecution, St. Cyr was among the earliest French surnames to arrive in North America during America's Colonial Era. This is evident by a Pierre de Saint-Cyr, who was one of the earliest recorded immigrants to arrive in Dutch controlled New Amsterdam in 1636.
Famous people with the name St. Cyr
- Lil St. Cyr: American burlesque dancer
- Jenny St. Cyr: American beauty pageant titleholder
- Evangeline St. Cyr: Canadian painter and instructor
- Elsie St. Cyr: American film actress
- Sunset St. Cyr: American writer, public speaker, and postpartum doula
- Jean St. Cyr: Canadian actor and comedian
- Celine St. Cyr: Venezuelan fashion designer
- Yvette St. Cyr: Canadian actress
- Marie-Cecile St. Cyr: Canadian biochemist and researcher
- Mathieu St. Cyr: Canadian television and stage actor
- Debbie St. Cyr: American professional wrestler.