Surname Singletary - Meaning and Origin
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From Vikings to Native Americans: Unraveling the Surprises in My Singletary Lineage Through an iGENEA DNA Test
As I unraveled the secrets of my surname, Singletary, with the help of an iGENEA DNA test, surprising revelations greeted me at every turn. The unexpected turns on this journey included non-English origins of my surname and even Native American ancestry.
N. Singletary
read moreSingletary: What does the surname Singletary mean?
The surname Singletary is of English origin and is believed to have been derived from the medieval term "synglere" which refers to a person who spins wool, flax or cotton. This occurs as part of the wider cloth making process which was a key industry in medieval England, hence the prevalence of the surname in areas with a history of cloth production. Thus, the surname Singletary could infer that the ancestors of people with this surname worked as spinners in the textile industry. However, it's important to note that surname origins can be complex and it's often challenging to trace their exact meanings and origins.
Order DNA origin analysisSingletary: Where does the name Singletary come from?
The last name Singletary is most common in the United States today, particularly in the South-Eastern Region. According to historical records, its presence in the United States originated during the colonial era with its first recording in Virginia in the mid-17th century. Records of Singletarys in the United States have since been found in nearly all areas of the country.
The majority of the people with the Singletary surname are found in the 21st century in the Central South Region. They can be found in the states of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Kentucky. In these states, it is most populous in the counties of Halifax, Cumberland, and Marshall.
The Singletary surname is also well represented in other parts of the world, primarily the United Kingdom. It is especially frequent in the counties of Wiltshire, Kent, and Devon in England, and also in the cities of Cardiff and Swansea in Wales.
In the United States, the Singletary family is most prominently known as a notable African-American family, whose legacy is deeply rooted in the historic towns of Halifax and Halifax County, Virginia. The family is suggested to be descended from an African-American slave named Charles Singletary, who was owned by William Singletary and acquired his freedom during the American Civil War.
Variations of the surname Singletary
Singletary is derived from the old English langauge word ‘senglefecer,’ meaning to make or create something single. It has been spelled in many ways, including Singletarie, Singletarie, Singletarye, Singlateare, Singletare, Singletree, and Singler. Variants of Singletary include Singletaire, Singeltary, Singletor, Singletar, Singleton, Sinkler, and Singletery.
The Singletary surname is most often associated with English, Welsh, and Irish descent, and has found its way to North America through many different immigration paths. Early settlers in North America included Singletary families from England, Ireland, and Scotland, and many of these Singletarys later resettled in the eastern part of the United States. As the USA developed and people spread out, so did the variants of the Singletary surname, leading to the numerous spellings found today. In some cases, immigrant families simply Americanized the spelling of their surname; for example, changing it from Singletary to Singleton or Singletor.
The Singletary surname can also be found in other parts of the world, most notably in Germany. The Singletary spelling there is typically Sinkler, with many members of the original Singletary family in Germany having adopted the last name for the first time in the 17th century.
The Singletary name is still quite common today, and can be found throughout the United States. It can be spotted among a variety of different variants, including Singletaire, Singeltary, Singletor, Singletar, Singleton, Sinkler, and Singletery. Whether one is American, English, Welsh, Irish, or German, this surname is one of the oldest and most enduring of all modern surnames.
Famous people with the name Singletary
- Mike Singletary: Former American football linebacker and head coach.
- Barry Singletary: American actor.
- Frank Singletary: A founder of the North Carolina Folk Festival.
- Sara Singletary: 2017-18 Miss Virginia USA.
- Samuel Singletary: Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
- Danielle Singletary: American country music singer.
- Robert Singletary: politician who served in the Texas house of representatives.
- Stephen Singletary: Entrepreneur and founder of ultra-luxury outdoor goods brand.
- Kenneth Singletary: American football coach and executive.
- Lucas Singletary: Professional golfer on the PGA Tour.
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Comments or additions to the name "Singletary"
20.01.2024
My ancestor, Richard Singletary, born in 1599 in England, came to America in the early 1600s. He stayed in Massachusetts, Salem and Haverhill, and his descendants moved to Charleston, SC and then to Bladen County, NC. There is a Singletary cemetery in Butters, NC where many of my ancestors are buried.