Surname Sayre - Meaning and Origin

Discovering the Saga of Sayre: An Emotional Epilogue of My iGENEA DNA Test

The iGENEA DNA test led me on an emotional journey, revealing the compelling saga of my lineage and deepening my connection to my surname Sayre. It wasn't merely a scientific exercise, but a bridge to my ancestral heritage, filled with stirring stories of resilience, exploration, and legacy.

R. Sayre

Sayre: What does the surname Sayre mean?

The surname Sayre is of French origin, deriving from the Old French word "sieur" or "seigneur", meaning "lord" or "noble". The name was often given to individuals who held certain roles within the community, typically positions of leadership or authority such as a feudal lord or knight. It became Anglicized to "Sayer" after the Norman Conquest in 1066 and later morphed into different variations including "Sayre". Therefore, the name can suggest a family history associated with a high social rank or occupational role. However, it's important to note that surnames' meanings can vary based on geographical regions and historical periods. Over time, they may lose their original significance and primarily serve as familial identifiers. Moreover, different families with the Sayre name might not be historically or genetically related. As with many surnames, the meaning of Sayre offers a glimpse into possible ancestral occupation or status but doesn't provide a comprehensive picture of a family's history or heritage.

Sayre: Where does the name Sayre come from?

The Sayre surname is primarily concentrated in the United States and the United Kingdom today. According to the US Census Bureau, the surname is most common in Pennsylvania, where it ranks 81st out of all surnames. In the United Kingdom, the surname is concentrated in England, ranking near 15,000th on the list of most common surnames.

The Sayre surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and dates back to the middle of the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "searu," meaning "sandy," or "dry," which was a personal nickname for an individual living near a sandy area. The first bearer of the name was Peter de Sayre, who was documented in 1221 in Folkstone, Kent, England.

The Sayre family has a rich and lengthy history of prominent figures in the United States. These individuals include former Senator from Pennsylvania, Charles Sayre, and Clara Sayre, a suffragette and suffragist leader.

Sayre is an anglicized interpretation of many other surnames, such as Sayer, Seyra, Sayea, and Sayres. Together, all of these names are quite common today in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Variations of the surname Sayre

Sayre is a surname of English origin, which derives from the Old English pre 7th century personal name Saegar, bring composed of the elements "sae", which means sea and "gar", which means spear.

The variants, spellings and other surnames of the same origin as Sayre are Sayer, Segar, Segur, Seymore, Seyfarth, and Seger.

The form Sayre is still commonly found in US records such as the US Census 1850 where it is recorded as Sayre in 32 states, with New York having the highest concentration. Early recordings of the surname in sorted documents include those of Henry Sayer in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296 and Stephen de Seger in the Curia Regis Rolls of London in 1211.

William Sayre, born in 1644, was an early emigrant to America, settling in Massachusetts in 1660. He is believed to be one of the first of the family to take on the name Sayre in America.

In more recent times, William Edward Sayre (1852-1933) was an American banker and railroad executive. He was a co-founder of the Southern Pacific Railroad and was also the first president of the Los Angeles Railway.

The Sayre surname has branched into numerous variants with the largest concentration being in America. Variants of the name, such as Sayer, Seger, Seyfarth and Seymore all originate from the original form of Sayre.

Famous people with the name Sayre

• Pam Sayre: American conservationist, wildlife artist, and preservationist
• C. Coleman Sayre: American ice hockey coach and professional player
• Roger Sayre: American tech and video entrepreneur
• Emma Sayre: American stage actress
• Sofia Seherrell Sayre: First Daughter of President Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Richard Paul Sayre: American plant scientist and LPB Chair of the Complex Traits Group of the Institute of Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Edinburgh
• William Sayre: British infantry officer and politician
• John Sayre: American film, television, and theater actor
• John Sayre Hoff: American writer, social activist, spiritualist, and metaphysical teacher
• Rosa Sayre: Indian actress and independent film-maker
• Anne Sayre: American science journalist
• Elizabeth Sayre: American watercolor painter and illustrator
• Arthur Sayre: American rugby union player
• Sylvester Sayre: American naturalist and geologist
• Charles Sayre: American musician and composer
• Myles Sayre: American college football coach and sportscaster

Other surnames

Sayres