Surname Suthers - Meaning and Origin
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Suthers: What does the surname Suthers mean?
The surname Suthers is of English origin. It is believed to be geographical, derived from the Old English word "sūð" which means "south". It’s likely that the surname arose as a nickname for someone who lived in the southern part of a village or town, or who had migrated from the south. Another possible origin is from a name given to those who worked in the "sūderhus smiþ" which translates to “south house smith”. This would imply the person worked in a forge or was a blacksmith in the southern part of town. As with most surnames, variations on spelling exist such as Suther, Souther and Southers. Surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, and personal characteristics.
Order DNA origin analysisSuthers: Where does the name Suthers come from?
The last name Suthers is most common in the United States, particularly in states like New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio, according to family research. It is also found in Canada in Ontario, Nova Scotia, and British Columbia. In the US, Suthers is the 2,901st most common surname, while in Canada it ranks 5,690th.
The Suthers family originated in England in the 13th century and is believed to originate from Sutton, a parish in Kent. According to one source, the family name may have derived from an old English word meaning "southern."
The original spelling of the surname was Suther. Over time, various spellings emerged until the most common version today, Suthers, emerged. Until the 19th century, most Suthers families lived in the south-eastern English counties of Kent, Sussex, Middlesex, and Hertfordshire.
During the 19th century, Suthers families migrated to the United States and Canada in pursuit of a better life. The Suthers family pioneered several areas of Central and Northern Michigan, including Crawford County, Montcalm County, and Gratiot County.
Suthers remains a relatively uncommon name, although smaller pockets of the surname can be found throughout the United States and Canada. If you happen to come across someone with the surname Suthers, know that you've potentially found a distant relative from hundreds of years ago!
Variations of the surname Suthers
The surname Suthers is of English origin and is an occupational surname. It derived from the Old English suthere, meaning "soother, treasurer, or tax collector". It is found in many variations and spellings in English-speaking countries, such as Suters, Suther, Suthers, Suthers, Sothers, Southers, Southerton, Soothers, Sootherts, Suthere, and Sutheree. In Scotland, the spelling Suthers is also found in the forms Suthersan, Sotheran, Sithirsan, and Sitheirsan.
In the United States, Suthers is most common in the Southeast, particularly in Tennessee and Georgia. It is fairly widespread throughout the country, however, with some settlements in Michigan, California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Florida, and other states.
In the UK, Suthers is more common in England, although some bearers of the name have settled in Scotland and Wales. It is found in Scotland mainly in Galloway, Ayrshire, and Fife, while some bearers of Suthers are found in London as well.
In Ireland, Suthers is found mainly in County Wicklow and County Dublin. There are a few bearers of the name in Wexford and Leinster. Some members of the Suthers family came to Ireland from England, Scotland, and Wales in the 1600s and 1700s. This is evidenced by some of the variations of the name found in Ireland, such as Sutwise, Sothern, and Sutherey.
Overall, it is clear that Suthers is a relatively widespread English-language surname, found with variations and different spellings across the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States.
Famous people with the name Suthers
- Becky Le Gros Suthers: Becky is an American actress best known for her roles in the TV series The West Wing, ER, and 24.
- Charles Suthers: Charles is an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist. He is the founder and CEO of Suthers Group, LLC.
- Kenny Suthers: Kenny is an American record producer. He has worked with some of the biggest names in country music, such as Wynonna Judd, Keith Whitley, and Lorrie Morgan.
- John Suthers: John is an American politician who served as the 44th Governor of Colorado from 2015–2019.
- Josh Suthers: Josh is an American actor and writer. He is best known for his roles in the movies Love & Other Drugs and Daylight Savings.
- Bill Suthers: Bill is a Canadian musician and record producer. He is the lead singer of the alternative rock band The Tragically Hip.
- Mike Suthers: Mike is an American hockey player who played in the NHL for the Dallas Stars and Philadelphia Flyers.
- Tony Suthers: Tony is an American politician who served as the 52nd Mayor of Colorado Springs from 2004–2015.
- Joe Suthers: Joe is an American baseball player who has played in the MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Francisco Giants.
- Scott Suthers: Scott is an American track and field athlete. He won a silver medal in the 100 m race at the 2002 IAAF World Indoor Championships.