Surname Syars - Meaning and Origin
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Syars: What does the surname Syars mean?
The last name Syars is of English origin, derived from the surname 'Seers'. Seers was one of the literal occupational surnames that referred to a servant whose job it was to oversee and maintain the lord's property. 'Seer' comes from the Old English word 'scir', meaning 'shire', which was an administrative district located in England and Wales in the Middle Ages and was later adopted to refer to a county or similar area.
The mutation of 'Seers' to 'Syars' is believed to have happened after the Norman Conquest in 1066. This is due to the fact that Norman French was heavily used by ruling classes and many words and elements changed throughout that period.
Syars is now most commonly found in the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. It is believed that the Syars family arrived in America in the late 1800s, though records can be difficult to trace due to the fact that many records were lost in a courthouse fire in Pennsylvania in 1883.
Today, those with the Syars surname generally enjoy a strong sense of family and can be found having various affinity groups throughout the countries they are found in. The Syars family pride themselves in their heritage, and acknowledge the hard work and dedication of their ancestors. The origin of the name is a reminder of the importance of stewardship, and members of the Syars family are proud to carry on this tradition.
Order DNA origin analysisSyars: Where does the name Syars come from?
The last name Syars is most commonly found today in the United Kingdom. This surname originally stems from an ancient Anglo-Saxon family name, being a habitation or a name referring to a place where Syars people lived. The spelling of the name may have been altered over the centuries due to language and dialect differences, which is why variations can be found today.
Syars can be found in England, Scotland, and Wales. It is most common in the county of Surrey, in the south of England. This English region was among the first to embrace agricultural and industrial shifts in the eighteenth century, and the Syars family were prominent landowners here. It is likely that the family had some presence here for many generations prior.
The 19th-century census reveals that the Syars family could be found in large numbers across much of England, Scotland, and Wales. As the 19th century surged onward, the family began to spread further afield, with Syars being found in large numbers across much of the British Isles.
Today, the last name Syars is still quite common, especially in the United Kingdom. Research suggests that a significant number of Syars have emigrated to the United States and Canada, as well as other Commonwealth countries. As such, Syars people may be found across the globe in countries like Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, and beyond.
Variations of the surname Syars
The surname Syars is an Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic surname 'Ó Sícearnaigh', which is also sometimes spelled 'Ó Saícearnaigh'. Other variants of the name include 'O'Siharny', 'O'Sirrany', 'O'Seirney', 'O'Shirony', 'O'Sheirny', 'Sahearny', 'Sehearny' and 'Saherny'.
As the surname is of Irish origins, it is part of the ancient clan system of Ireland and therefore has a rich and varied heritage. Many of the variants of the name shown above all have the same original root, which is 'O'Sícearnaigh'. This root can be divided further into two Gaelic words, 'sícear' – which refers to the word 'busy' – and 'naigh' which simply means 'descendant'. Therefore, the original meaning of the surname was literally 'descendant of the busy one', suggesting it was the name of an ancestor of the family who was particularly hard-working.
In modern times, other spellings and surnames of the same origin include 'Shirran', 'Shearan', 'Searan', 'Sharan', 'Seiran', 'Sharean', 'Sierra', 'Scheeran', 'Syers' and 'Sirron'. Likewise, other surnames that are derived from 'Ó Sícearnaigh' include 'Finn', 'Flynn', 'MacAlear', 'MacKlear', 'McCarter', 'McKeran', 'McKeirnan' and 'McSherran'.
Finally, there are also variations of the surname that have been found in Scotland, where it is spelled 'Syirs'. This can be further divided into different spellings such as 'Shiers', 'Siers', 'Shiars', 'Syares', 'Syers' and 'Sayers'.
Famous people with the name Syars
- Carys Syars: Music Artist. Carys is a rising artist with a new EP titled ‘Blue Heaven’. She is renowned for her eclectic sound that smoothly moves between adventure rock and more textured trap-inspired production.
- Jef Syars: Musician & Producer. Jef is a Los Angeles-based artist and producer. Throughout his career, he has helped to create an array of musical projects ranging from rap to singer-songwriter, pop, EDM and rock.
- Zach Syars: Entrepreneur. Zach is a tech entrepreneur who is continuously pushing the boundaries of the tech industry. He founded the venture capital firm Zii Ventures and is currently a managing partner of d20 Ventures.
- Harlan Syars: Actor. Harlan is an actor, writer and comedian based in London. He is best known for his roles in the Miles Morgan Mysteries series and The Deadfall Mysteries series.
- Madeline Syars: Lawyer. Madeline is a respected lawyer who is well-known as a strong advocate for human rights and civil liberties. She is currently working on an international campaign for the protection of human rights in the Middle East and North Africa.
- Jack Syars: Professional Golfer. Jack is a professional golfer who has won several tournaments across the United States. He currently plays on the PGA Tour and is considered to be one of the best golfers in the world.
- Tony Syars: Entrepreneur. Tony is a successful entrepreneur and investment consultant who is a member of several prominent organizations. He has a degree in finance from the University of Pennsylvania and is a partner in the luxury investment firm Casilio Capital.
- Stephen Syars: Engineer. Stephen is a veteran engineer who has years of experience in the field. He currently works as a project director at successful architecture and engineering firm WYG.
- Patrick Syars: Politician. Patrick is a former Louisiana politician and businessman who served as the state’s secretary of state from 1988–1992. He is also a former member of the United States House of Representatives.
- Jack Syars: Artist. Jack is a renowned artist who is known for his work in the surrealist movement. He has had several solo exhibitions of his work in galleries around the world and has several pieces in public and private collections.