Surname Suur - Meaning and Origin
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Suur: What does the surname Suur mean?
The last name Suur is a Finnish surname which has its roots in the area of Northern Europe. It roughly translates to mean "big" or "grand" and is likely derived from the Old Swedish word for "mighty".
The Suur surname is believed to have originated in the early 13th century when Finland was under Swedish rule. Bearers of the name were associated with tenant farmers or landowners who had considerable wealth and power within their region. This power and standing extended to a larger region, thus their name was used to denote their greatness.
The Suur surname continues to be seen in Finland today, as well as other Nordic countries including, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Germany. Bearers of this surname can also be found in North America, most likely due to immigration in the 19th or early 20th centuries.
Over the years, many bearers of the name have gone on to become leaders or notable figures in various fields. Examples include, Finnish astronomer Heikki Suurmeijer, Finnish composer Pehr Henrik Suurup, and German chemist Wolfgang Suur.
It is clear that the surname Suur holds a great deal of significance. It may be seen as a symbol of greatness, influence and power.
Order DNA origin analysisSuur: Where does the name Suur come from?
The last name Suur is most commonly found in the Nordic countries of Sweden, Norway and Estonia. The surname is derived from the Scandinavian term suur which means "large" or "grand" in English and was traditionally used as a descriptor for someone of great stature. Although some individuals of this surname may be found in other parts of the world such as North America, Canada, and even Australia, the greatest concentration appears to be in the areas where the Scandinavian influence is the strongest. In Sweden, Suur is the 168th most commonly found surname and in Norway, it is the 44th most common. There are also large concentrations in Estonian cities such as Tartu and Tallinn.
The surname Suur is also found in Finland in the form of the surname Söör, as well as in a variety of other languages – for example, Latvian versions include Zupa and Zupe. As with any country-specific surname, family names often change and evolve according to language, so the presence of the surname Sur, Suar, Suor, or Zuur is not unexpected in any given region where the Scandinavian influence is felt.
In any case, the majority of present-day Suurs are concentrated in the Nordic countries, with Sweden in particular boasting the greatest population.
Variations of the surname Suur
The surname Suur comes from the Old Norse word sýr, meaning ‘swift’, ‘energetic’ or ‘vigorous’. It is a common surname in Estonia, Finland, Sweden, and other Scandinavian countries.
Variants of the surname include Soer, Soere, Suer, Suire, Sur, Sure, and Suire. Other possible spellings include Soor, Soõer, Søer, Sør, Süer, Süire, and Sürer.
The surname can also be found as surnames of other origins, including Germanic, British, Dutch, and Danish. These names are considered to be variants of the same origin as Suur.
The Germanic forms include Sewer, Seuer, and Zoyer.
The British forms include Sewers, Seaward, Sewards, Seawards, and Soar.
The Dutch forms include Boezer, Bozer, Breezer, Buzer, Seur, and Soer.
The Danish forms include Ser, Sere, Sor, Sørensen, Sørensgaard, and Sørgaard.
In English, the forms of Suur often appear as Zuer, Suer, and Sure.
Different dialects among various countries may also produce different versions of the surname, as is the case with the Estonian Suur, which is also commonly found written as Szur, Szer, or Szurz.
Similar surnames to Suur may also be found in other countries, such as the Russian surname Surov, the Polish Surow, and the Czech Surový.
Famous people with the name Suur
- Elar Suur: Estonian businessman, former CEO of the SEB bank and the Unity Party.
- Andres Suur: Estonian filmmaker and scriptwriter.
- Elina Suur- veteran Estonian actress and director.
- Esters Suur- Estonian sculptor.
- Kristiina Suur- Estonian entrepreneur and business person.
- Margus Suur: Estonian politician and diplomat.
- Kristiina Suur- Estonian writer and columnist.
- Indrek Suur- Estonian lawyer and entrepreneur.
- Monika Suur: Estonian fashion designer.
- Olari Suur: Estonian composer and arranger.
- Jaak Suur: Estonian composer, singer, and actor.
- Indrek Suur: Estonian politician, Minister of Agriculture and former Prime Minister.
- Joel Suur: Estonian artist.
- Toomas Suur: Estonian geographer and cartographer.
- Joel Suur: Estonian entrepreneur and CEO of various companies.
- Raul Suur: Estonian physicist and astrophysicist.
- Urmas Suur: Estonian musician and composer.
- Viktor Suur: Estonian linguist and philosopher.
- Ivo Suur: Estonian stage actor and theatre director.
- Jaan Suur: Estonian professional ice hockey player.