Surname St George - Meaning and Origin
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St George: What does the surname St George mean?
The surname St George is generally of English origin and is derived from the honorific title of 'Saint George', the patron saint of England. The term 'George' itself means farmer or earth worker in Greek. The Saint George figure, often associated with chivalry and knighthood, is famed for his legend of slaying a dragon and is celebrated annually on St George's Day in various Christian cultures. Therefore, the last name St George often suggests a connection to nobility, courage, or devotion in faith. The surname could be bestowed upon individuals or families as a sign of respect or admiration, highlighting their virtues or attributes that were parallel to those of Saint George. The usage of 'St' indicates a sign of reverence and deep respect. As a surname, it's common in various regions but particularly in England and nations with a British history or influence. Over the years, it has been varied into different forms and spellings.
Order DNA origin analysisSt George: Where does the name St George come from?
The last name St George is found all over the world today. It is most common in the United Kingdom, where records show that over 12,000 people are known to bear the name. The name St George is also common in countries that have historical connections to Britain, such as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
The St George name originated from the legendary Christian soldier and Roman military martyr, St George, who was venerated as a saint during the Middle Ages. The saint's popularity spread and names were associated with him to honor his exploits and pledge religious devotion. Over the years, the name St George was adopted by many families as an act of loyalty and patriotism.
In the United States, the St George name is also found, but the number of people who bear that name is much smaller. According to the U.S. Census, approximately 4,200 people are recorded as having the last name St George - but an even smaller percentage actually still use it as a surname. This is largely due to intermarriage among various ethnic groups, as well as from families who have Anglicized their surnames in the wake of immigration.
In addition to people with Anglo-Saxon or British heritage, there are also many people of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean backgrounds who bear the name. St George is also associated with numerous cultural groups, such as the Hispanic and Portuguese communities. In countries other than the United States, like Brazil, Portugal, and Italy, the name is also quite common.
Variations of the surname St George
The surname St George is derived from the Latin word 'sanctus' which means 'holy' or 'sacred'. It is derived from the personal name Georgius, which is derived from the Greek Γεώργιος (Geōrgios).
Variations of the St George surname include Georges, Giorgi, Jordi, St Jordi, Georgeou, and Giangeo. There is also the patronymic surname Georgiou, meaning 'son of George'.
Some variants of the surname St George include:
- Georos
- Geurges
- Joorjes
- Joossen
- Jordaens
- Joorjee
- Jouries
- Joure
- Joor
- Jor
- Georgius
- Georgevitch
- Georgiev
- Geurgeou
- Geurds
- Giangeos
- Gioorgi
- Ghiorghi
- Giorgianni
- Giouri
- Giorgio
- Giorgino
- Giorgis
- Giorgiu
- Giouregios
- Georgos
- Georgea
- Giorgis
The English variations of St George include George, Georgeson, Georgan, Georgeson, and Georgson. Irish variations include Georges, Georgeson, and Georgan. French variations include Georges and Georgan. German variations include Georgen and Georgeson.
The spelling of St George depends on the language and country of origin. For example, in Greece and Cyprus the surname is often spelled as Georgiou, Giorgiu or Giorgis; in Italy and Romania it is spelled as Giorgio or Giorgino; and in Spain and Portugal it is spelled as Jordi, Jor and Giouregios.
Famous people with the name St George
- Julie St. George: Actress and stunt woman
- Christopher St. George: British Army officer and current Governor of Gibraltar
- Mandy St. George: British former actress and model
- Sir Brinsley St. George: English military officer and diplomat
- Everard St. George: 17th-century English army officer
- John St. George: British Royal Air Force pilot
- Thomas St. George: Tennis player
- Robert St. George: Australian Explorers and Surveyors
- Anthony St. George: British comptroller of the Royal Household
- Alexander St. George: Canadian lawyer and businessman
- Clemency St. George: English actress
- Eliza St. George: American journalist and editor
- Adam St. George: British actor
- Michael St. George: British professor of mathematics
- Henrietta St. George: British artist
- Stephen St. George: American actor
- Jennifer St. George: Canadian court reporter
- Julian St. George: Canadian singer and songwriter
- D. WD St. George: English author
- George St. George: American basketball player