Surname Surles - Meaning and Origin
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Surles: What does the surname Surles mean?
The last name Surles is thought to have developed out of the English surname Sorrell. The surname Sorrell itself has a few possible origins. It may have come from a place name derived from the Old English words ‘sor’ meaning ‘sour’ and ‘halh’ meaning ‘corner’; and in this case, the surname would refer to people who had originated from a place with such a name. Alternatively, it may have come from a nickname given to someone with a ‘sour temperament’ or to someone who was noted for having a ‘sorrel’ horse.
The first records of the name Surles date back to the 13th to 16th centuries in Britain, and the original spelling (Sorrel) was found in documents such as tax registers and church registries in Devon. It also appears in certain muster rolls and in a book of court rolls. Surnames were often changed as they travelled with people over long distances, and this could be how the name morphed from Sorrel to Surles.
Surles is not a common name in the U.S. today, but certain surveys have revealed that it mainly occurs in the south-eastern states such as South Carolina, Georgia, and Texas. It is thought that people with the name Surles came to this region in the 19th century after migrating from Britain.
The last name Surles is likely derived from would the English name Sorrell. It has a few possible origins, including being derived from a nickname given to someone with a ‘sour temperament’ or from a place name associated with a sour corner. It appears mainly in the south-eastern United States today after British immigrants brought it with them during the 19th century.
Order DNA origin analysisSurles: Where does the name Surles come from?
The last name Surles is most commonly found in the United States, primarily throughout the south. It can be found in states such as Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The name is less common in other states and countries.
Surles is an English name, and likely derived from the middle French sur, meaning ‘on’ or ‘above’, and le, meaning ‘the’. As such, the literal meaning of Surles is ‘on the’ or ‘above the’.
The earliest record of the Surles surname was found in the 14th century, when the name spelled ‘Surles’ appears in a Sussex County, England tax roll of 1327. During the 1600s, the first members of the Surles family began to migrate to the United States, mainly settling in the southern states.
Today, the Surles family continues to grow and thrive in the United States. The most popular state for the Surles name by current population is Alabama, with approximately 1,400 Surles currently living in the state. Other states with a high population of Surles include Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana, all of which have recorded populations of 500 to 1,000.
In general, last name Surles is relatively uncommon and found primarily in the southern United States.
Variations of the surname Surles
The surname Surles has several variants, spellings, and surnames stemming from the same origin. These include Surle, Soorle, Sirle, Sorles, Surles, Sorle, and Jones. These variants and spellings can be found in countries such as France, Portugal, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Surle is a French variant of the surname Surles and is more commonly found in France. It can also be seen in other countries such as the United States and Australia. The spelling of this variant does not typically change and is often spelled as Surle.
Soorle is another variant of the surname Surles and is a German spelling of the name. It is more commonly found in Germany and other European countries and can be spelled with either one or two Rs.
Sirle is a rarely used variant for the surname Surles and can be found in Germany, France, and other European countries. This variant is not common and is not seen as often as the other variants.
Sorles is the most common variant of the surname Surles. It is widely used in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries. The spelling is typically kept consistent with the double Rs, but sometimes the spelling is altered to Sorle.
Jones is an English variant of the surname Surles and is derived from the Welsh version of Surles. This variant is largely found in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries.
Altogether, the many variant spellings and surnames of Surles give us a better understanding of the origin and spread of the surname across many countries and cultures.
Famous people with the name Surles
- John Surles: A highly regarded Christian author who wrote the book “Choosing Christ in a World of Stress and Struggle” that focuses on navigating through the difficulties one experiences in life.
- Adam Surles: Has appeared in various movies, such as “Bobby” and “John Tucker Must Die”.
- Thelma Surles: America’s first female African American pharmacist graduating from the Howard College of Pharmacy.
- Charles Surles: Appeared on the television show “Dancing with the Stars” and is an award-winning choirmaster.
- Ken Surles: Kentucky State Senator who served in the Kentucky legislature from 1998-2006.
- Willie Surles: A professional NCAA football player and two-time All-American on the University of Georgia team.
- Tennessee Surles: A renowned musician and member of the “Southern Music Hall of Fame”, due to his contributions to the development of the acoustic blues style.
- Berta Surles: A renowned American Roman Catholic nun who served the Bishop of Charlotte in North Carolina for several years.
- Clarence Surles: A former mayor of High Point, North Carolina, known for his efforts to improve the economy of the city.
- Alec Surles: A South African cricket player who played with the South African team for the 2006 Cricket World Cup.