Surname Sayres - Meaning and Origin

Sayres: What does the surname Sayres mean?

The surname Sayres has roots in ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It is derived from the Old English name "Saeger," an occupational term for someone who was a "seer" or perhaps "sayer." This could mean that individuals who bore this name were regarded as oracles, fortune tellers, or prophets, indicating a potential lineage of spiritual or wise individuals. Moreover, another interpretation of the name suggests that it could have been used for vocal or boisterous individuals, from the Middle English word "say(en)," meaning "to say or tell." Over time, numerous spelling variations of the name have emerged including Sayer, Sayres, Sayers among others. It is a rare last name today and it's widespread geographically, with notable holders of this surname found in various parts of the world. They've contributed to a range of fields, from literature to politics. Like most surnames, it offers an interesting peek into the history, profession, and characteristics of the ancestors of those carrying it today.

Sayres: Where does the name Sayres come from?

The surname Sayres is most commonly found in the United States. According to the 2020 United States Census, the Sayres surname is the 14,940th most common last name in America. Additionally, Sayres is ranked as the 3,518th most popular surname in the world. The highest concentrations of Sayres families are located in the Northeastern and Midwestern states of the U.S. A variety of states are home to large populations of Sayres surnames, including Pennsylvania, California, Texas, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, Illinois, and Massachusetts.

The Sayres surname is popular in the southern states as well, with some notable Sayres families from Kentucky, Georgia, and even Louisiana. Overseas, some Sayres families can be found in Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, as well as the United Kingdom.

The origin of the Sayres surname is largely unknown, although it is thought to have English, Scottish, or Irish origins. Unsurprisingly, the highest frequency of Sayres families is still found in Britain and Ireland. It’s speculated that some of the earliest Sayres to arrive in North America likely had Church of England or Protestant backgrounds.

Today, the Sayres name is spread out across the world, with families bearing that last name living in all seven continents. As various generations of Sayres migrate to different areas, the last name continues to prosper and become more widely known.

Variations of the surname Sayres

The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Sayres are Sayres, Sayers, Sarres, Seares, Sairs, Seas, Seices, Seayres, and Sours.

Sayres originated from the pre-7th century Old French personal name ‘Saher’, meaning ‘joyful’ or ‘blissful’. It arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. After its arrival, the name was found in some form or other right in the very cradle of English surname development, the county of Lancashire. Later, variations of this name were found in other counties such as Norfolk, Yorkshire, Sussex, and Kent.

The Anglo Saxon form ‘Seaxa’ formed the basis of some dialects of this surname. This was then changed to ‘sayr’ or ‘seyr’ in relaxed pronunciation. Later spellings included ‘Seres’ and ‘Cieres’, as well as ‘Sepr’ and ‘Deyr’. These dialectal variations are the main sources for variants of this surname such as Sayers, Sarres, Seares, Sairs, Seas, Seices, Seayres, and Sours.

After the 16th century, many variants of this surname with initial letter S were linked to Irish origins, stemming from the Gaelic form of the surname, 'O'Siochra'.

The most prominent family with this name is that of the Sayres of East Sussex, recorded in the heraldic records of that county between 1473 and 1586. Sir Robert de Sayres was granted Eastbourne Castle, Sussex in 1366.

Variants of the surname Sayres is found today with slight spellings and peculiar variants. Still, the legacy of the surname lives on.

Famous people with the name Sayres

• Delos Franklin Sayres (1820-1899): An American politician and banker who served as the 43rd Governor of New Hampshire.
• John Sprague Sayres (1849-1927): An American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from New Hampshire from 1889 to 1895.
• Sarah Sayres (1915-706): An American actress, best known for her roles in My Cousin Rachel (1952), The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953) and The Great Sioux Uprising (1953).
• Diane Sayres (1934-2008): An American aesthetician and practitioner of homeopathy who based her theories of natural beauty on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner.
• Lawrence K. Sayres (1921-2016): An American politician and businessman who served as a U.S. Representative from New Jersey's 4th congressional district from 1971 to 1979.
• Sam Sayres (1929-1974): An American stock car racer and NASCAR Grand National champion.
• Jody Sayres (1959-1994): An American author who wrote The Woman Who Married the Moon (1985) and other works of fantasy, science fiction, and horror.
• Tracey Sayres (born 1964): An American artist whose artwork has been widely exhibited throughout the United States.
• Stephen Sayres (born 1967): An American software engineer and entrepreneur who co-founded the technology company Trulia.
• Keith Sayres (born 1968): An American poet, author, and essayist whose work has appeared in The New Yorker, Harper's, and other literary magazines.

Other surnames

Sayre