Surname Shearin - Meaning and Origin
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Shearin: What does the surname Shearin mean?
The last name Shearin is of Scottish origin. The meaning of this surname is derived from the Old Norse words 'shear', which means 'shear of sheep', and 'in', which means 'belonging to'. This name is thus believed to be a designation for a sheepherder and suggests an occupational origin.
The earliest mentions of the Shearin surname date back to 1567 in Scotland, where it is found in various records from the Scottish border counties. This would indicate that the name originated in that area and was likely to have been brought to Scotland by Norse settlers. The name is most commonly associated with the County of Northumberland, where it is found in various records dating back to the late 15th century.
Shearin’s are today most prevalent in Scotland, England, Ireland, and the United States. The majority of Shearin’s have maintained their traditional roots and have kept true to their ancestry and the associated occupational inheritance. The name has also been adopted by other countries such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The Shearin surname has come to incorporate a large range of occupations, culture and beliefs. It brings together individuals from different geographical and cultural backgrounds, and is a reflection of the past and the long history that is associated with it. The origins of this unique and fascinating name is still a mystery, however, its determination and collective identity remains.
Order DNA origin analysisShearin: Where does the name Shearin come from?
The last name Shearin is most commonly found in the United States. In the US in 2020, Shearin was the 3,747th most common surname. Within the US, it is most common in North Carolina, where it ranks 111th. According to FamilySearch, the earliest record of the Shearin surname in the US dates back to 1790, when Elizabed Shearing married Francis Golding in Lee County, Virginia.
It has since been found in all of the US states, with concentrations in the South and Midwest, especially in Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, and South Carolina. Shearins can also be found in Canada (primarily in Ontario and Alberta), and in the UK (mostly in England, with smaller numbers in Scotland and Ireland).
Individuals descended from the Shearin surname have been involved in a variety of fields, from farming to politics to the entertainment industry. For example, actress Sandy Shearin won the Academy award for her role in the 1970 film "Love Story".
Whether you are a Shearin living in the US, Canada, the UK, or elsewhere, it is clear that the Shearin name has made its mark across the globe.
Variations of the surname Shearin
Shearin is a surname of Irish origin, which is rooted in the word “siar,” meaning “west.” It is also believed to derive from the name “Shireen,” a Persian name which means “sweet” or “beloved.” Variations of this surname include the spellings Shearin, Shieran, Sheeran, Sherin and Shirin. It is also sometimes spelled Sheehan, Sheahan, Sheeham, Sheaham, Sheram and Shaream.
Surnames derived from the same origin include O’Sherin, Sheeran, Shearan, Sheerin, Chereven, Sheirven, Sheerven, Shearvin and Sheerven.
Sheirin is a common surname in the US, Canada, Australia and Ireland. It is most common in the Midwestern, Northeast and West Coast regions of the US. Canada has a number of Shearins, most of whom are clustered in the provinces of Ontario and Alberta.
The Shearin name is believed to have originated in a single location within Ireland, likely in the region of Kildare. It is thought to have migrated throughout Ireland during the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, and then spread to the US, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.
It is possible that the spelling of the name changed as it traveled and developed different regional variations. For example, while the spelling Shearin is more popular in the United States, the spelling Sheeran or Sheerin is more common in the UK.
The surnames derived from Shearin are usually associated with the Shearin surname. Sheeran, Sheearan and Sheerin are three of the most common variants. It is also possible to create new surnames from the Shearin spelling by adding prefixes or other additions such as O’Shearin or McShearin.
Famous people with the name Shearin
- Rob Shearin: Americana singer-songwriter and acoustic roots musician from the Raleigh, North Carolina area.
- Lawrence Shearin: professional NASCAR driver who competed in five races in the Winston Cup Series in 1999.
- Cecil Shearin: former American football player.
- Ronnie Shearin: former professional basketball player for the NBA's Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors.
- Ray Shearin: Grammy-nominated bluegrass artist from Granite Falls, North Carolina.
- Charles Shearin: former Olympic judoka for the US Virgin Islands.
- David Shearin: Major League Baseball pitcher who pitched from 1989 to 1992.
- Will Shearin: former American football defensive back who played one season in the NFL.
- Steve Shearin: former professional baseball catcher who played in the major leagues for one season in 1973.
- Mark Shearin: longtime head football coach at Northern Kentucky University.