SHAWYER
Shawyer
Shawyer is a British surname of English origin. The name is derived from the Old English word "sceaga," meaning a grove or thicket, and the occupational word "eor," meaning someone who guards or looks after a forest or wooded area. This suggests that the original bearers of the surname may have been individuals who worked as woodward or forest keepers.
The surname Shawyer is classified as a patronymic surname, which means that it was often passed down from father to son over generations. The name may have evolved over time through various spelling variations, including Sawyer and Sayer.
Notable individuals bearing the surname Shawyer include John Shawyer, a renowned botanist in the 18th century, whose scholarly works contributed significantly to the field of botany. The Shawyer family is also known to have established a successful timber business in Yorkshire during the Victorian era, which thrived for several generations.
Today, the surname Shawyer continues to be relatively uncommon but is still found among British and English-speaking populations around the world.
References:
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Reaney, P.H., Wilson, R.M., & Bardsley, C.W. (2002). A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press.
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Cottle, B. (1983). The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Penguin Books.
There are approximately 647 people named Shawyer in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around ten in a million people in Britain are named Shawyer.
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Adam
- Andrew
- Anthony
- Christopher
- David
- John
- Lee
- Michael
- Mike
- Nicholas
- Paul
- Peter
- Simon
Female
- Andrea
- Emily
- Joanne
- Kim
- Leda
- Louise
- Margaret
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Sauyer
- Sawer
- Sawyer
- Sawyerr
- Schaerer
- Scharer
- Scharrer
- Schauer
- Schurer
- Seehawer
- Shaer
- Shara
- Sharar
- Sharawe
- Sharawi
- Sharer
- Shariar
- Sharir
- Sharrar
- Sharrer
- Sharrier
- Shawar
- Shawer
- Shaweross
- Shawers
- Shawger
- Shawker
- Shawver
- Shayer
- Sheara
- Shearar
- Shearer
- Shearor
- Shearrer
- Sheerer
- Shera
- Sherar
- Sherer
- Sherirs
- Sherrar
- Sherrer
- Sherryer
- Sheryer
- Shirer
- Shirers
- Shorer
- Shoryer
- Shower
- Shoyer
- Shuyer
- Shyer
- Sawyers
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.