Surname Syr - Meaning and Origin

Syr: What does the surname Syr mean?

The last name Syr originates from a toponymic surname, derived from the village of Syr in present-day Cumbria, England. The name Syr means 'stump, post, or pole' and may refer to the former existence of a large pole, drawn once by an oxen team, which marked the village boundary or a dwelling site of a man named Syr.

The surname Syr surfaced for the first time in the 14th century records from the same region, where the Old English Syr is mentioned as a surname. The surname continued to spread, likely due to migratory patterns from the northern region to areas of present-day Scotland and Wales, during the 16th-18th centuries.

Today, the surname is most commonly found in Germany and England, as well as in some parts of the United States, though it is still rarely used. Those who bear the surname are thought to be direct or decended from the original Syr who hailed from Cumbria.

In addition to the ancestral origins of the surname, it is thought that Syr is also used occasionally as a shortened version of several names such as Syrrus and Syrus. Therefore, the last name Syr could hold ancestral meanings or be used for those with other names.

Syr: Where does the name Syr come from?

The last name Syr is most commonly found in the United States today. The name is primarily of German/Austrian origin and first became a surname in the 17th century. It is likely derived from the Middle High German 'sir', meaning 'syrup', which was a sweetener rather than a common culinary seasoning (as it is today) at that time.

Most modern individuals with the Syr surname appear to be descended from four main branches originating in Germany and Austria. The first of these branches began in Baden-Württemberg, with several individuals settling in Northern Italy and northern France. Meanwhile, the second branch occurred in Lower Austria near the border with Czechoslovakia. A third branch is located in Bavaria in southern Germany, with the fourth being located in Switzerland.

Immigrants with the Syr surname began appearing in the United States during the late 18th century. By 1850, the Boston area had the highest concentration of Syrs in America at the time. By 1900, the majority of Syrs had relocated to Wisconsin. There are also many Syrs living in Missouri, Indiana, and some scattered around California. The number of Syr's in the United States is estimated to be around 5,000 today.

Variations of the surname Syr

Syr is a surname of Irish, Jewish and Welsh origins.

Irish:

The Irish variant of the surname Syr is Ó Sirideáin. This is an anglicized version of the old Gaelic name ‘Ua Sirideáin’ which translates roughly to ‘Descendant of Sirideán’.

Jewish:

The Jewish variant of the surname Syr is Syre or Syrkin, derived from the Yiddish word meaning ‘Blessed’ or ‘God-Fearing’. It is also a variant form of the Sephardic Jewish last name Sarfati.

Welsh:

The Welsh version of the surname Syr is recorded as Sayer or Sayres. This derives from the medieval personal name Saer, which meant ‘a craftsman’ in Welsh.

Spellings:

The surname Syr is also sometimes spelled as Syre, Syrkin, Sayres, Sayers, Saer and Sirideáin, as well as variations like Siridean, Siridan, Syran, Syren and Syrin.

Surnames of Same Origin:

Other surnames of the same origin are Sarfati, O’Sirideain, Sarfatty, Siridean, Serkin, Seres and Sayre.

Famous people with the name Syr

• Karim Syr: Algerian actor
• Karina Syrad: Ex-member of the band Precious
• Hanan Syr: Irish fashion designer
• Sami Syrjälä: Finnish ice hockey player
• Heikki Syrjänen: Finnish football player
• Elina Syrjälä: Finnish Paralympic swimmer
• Muharem Syrk: Bosnian poet
• Eugene Syromolotov: Russian long-distance runner
• Gaziemir Syr: Turkish wheelchair basketball player
• Gülbin Syr: Turkish weightlifter and actress

Other surnames

SyracuseSyreSyria