Surname Stears - Meaning and Origin
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Stears: What does the surname Stears mean?
The surname Stears comes from the Olde English personal name "Steorra", meaning "member of the audience". Historically, this name was often given to people who attended and took part in local courts and assemblies.
The Stears last name likely originated in northern England and Scotland, with some references found in Ireland. It is likely that the name is an example of a patronymic surname, which was formed by adding an "s," an "es," or a "es" to a father's name.
The Stears name was used to denote a place of origin. In other words, people with the last name Stears likely lived in a region or nearby area that was known by the same name. The name Stears appears in several records, including English parish ones and border documents.
The Stears surname also appears in records outside of England and Scotland. For example, some families bearing this name came to America from Ireland in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
The Stears last name continues to be used today. Some people bearing this name have become well-known due to their work in the fields of music, art, and politics. Today, the name is still used around the world, often in its various spellings, and as a reminder of its humble origins.
Order DNA origin analysisStears: Where does the name Stears come from?
The last name Stears is not especially common in any particular region, though it is distributed across the globe. Today, Stears can be found predominantly in the United Kingdom and the United States. In America, the Stears surname is most popular in the northwestern Mid-Atlantic states, particularly Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
In Europe, Stears is common in the British Isles, especially in England and Scotland. Stears was historically mainly a southwestern English surname, originating in the counties of Cornwall and Devon, but can also be found in Northern Ireland, Ireland and Wales. Elsewhere in Europe, Stears can be found scattered across the continent, with most individuals with this name hailing from Italy and Germany.
Outside of Europe, Stears can be found in many countries throughout the world. Those with the surname have emigrated to Australasia, the Caribbean, Latin America, Canada, East Africa and India. As a result, the Stears last name is found not only across Europe, but also around the world.
Variations of the surname Stears
The surname Stears is believed to have originated in England and Scotland, and is derived from the Old French name "Estaires". It is possible that this name was of Norman origin, derived from the French region of Estaires in the Nord department.
Variations of Stears include Steers, Stirers, Sterres, Sters, Styers, Sterres, Sterry, and Streers. It is also possible that other variations of the name were derived from an Anglicization of the French version of the name, Estaires or Étiers.
The name Stears may also be a variation on the original French form of the name, Estres. Estres translates to stree, which is commonly found as a common noun in Middle English. This may suggest that Stears is a form of Estres that has been altered to more closely resemble the English version of the name.
Many people who carry the Stears surname have likely used alternate spellings, such as Stars, Styers and Syers. For example, the English spelling of the name, Stars, may be derived from the Old French spelling of the name, Estaires. Similarly, the Scottish form of the name, Styers, may be derived from the French Étiers.
Several individuals also exist who may be related to those who carry the Stears surname but with different surnames. These surnames include Strear, Estaires, Sterry, and Steare. It is worth noting that some of these variants, such as Strear and Sterry, may actually be derived from Stears as they are similar to the original spelling of the name.
Famous people with the name Stears
- Roger Stears- British actor known for his work in Only Fools and Horses, Last of the Summer Wine, and Keeping Up Appearances.
- John Stears- Academy Award-winning special effects and stunt expert, known for his work in the original Star Wars trilogy.
- Paul Stears- former assistant manager for Southampton and coach of Premier League team Aston Villa
- Lee Stears- British international rugby union player
- Adam Stears- British R&B singer and songwriter
- Chloe Stears- British actress known for her roles in Holby City,Doctors and Law & Order UK
- Stephen Stears- prominent Liberal Democrat economist and policy advisor, co-authored the Orange Book: Reclaiming Liberalism
- Edward Stears- British-born Olympic rower of the 1920s
- Michael Stears- English former semi-professional footballer
- Grace Stears- British journalist, author and political editor of the Financial Times