Surname Shearing - Meaning and Origin

Shearing: What does the surname Shearing mean?

The last name Shearing originated from the English language. It is believed to have developed from the Old English words “scir” and “hierde,” which mean “to shear” and “to cut”. Shearing was most likely an occupational name for someone who was involved in cutting or shaping wool or hair.

Other scholars believe Shearing could have been an Anglo-Saxon name, since it appears in records dating back to the 11th century. It could ultimately come from the Old English personal name “Scirheard” which means “bright” and “warrior”.

The surname Shearing is particularly common in Scotland and Northern Ireland and spread through immigration to other countries in the 19th century such as the United States and Canada. Today, it is one of the top thousand surnames in the United States.

The name Shearing carries with it a broad history of culture and heritage. Those with the surname often trace their lineage back to Scotland or to other countries where the surname spread. It’s also thought that the name often carried respect and status due to its origins, representing a certain knowledge and skill in cutting and shearing. People with the surname Shearing can feel a connection to their family’s past and can carry the legacy of this craft that has been passed down through many generations.

Shearing: Where does the name Shearing come from?

The family name Shearing is of English origin and is recorded in the Doomsday Book of 1086 AD in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. Since then, it has become a common surname all over the world. Today the name Shearing is mostly found in England, with moderate concentrations in the United States, Australia, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, and Ireland. It is also found in other countries around the world, particularly in former Commonwealth countries.

The Shearing last name originates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. The name has two possible meanings: either a nature name, referring to someone who lived near a shire (scyr, or “sheer”) or an occupational name referring to someone who worked with shearing or sheer cloth such as a tailor or wool merchant.

In England, Shearing is a relatively common last name in the South-East (particularly Norfolk and Suffolk) and South-West regions. In the United States, the Shearing name is mainly found in the Midwestern and Southeastern states, including Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

In Australia, the Shearing last name is most associated with descendants of English and Welsh immigrants who settled in various parts of the country during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Shearing name is still found in abundance in various parts of the country, particularly New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland.

Overall, Shearing remains a relatively common last name, particularly in Britain and Commonwealth countries.

Variations of the surname Shearing

The surname Shearing is derived from the Old English word "sceran," which means "to cut," and is associated with a variety of related surnames. Variations on this spelling are Sharring, Sharin, Shearin, Sheering, Sheering, Sheerin, Shearan, Sheern, Sheernen, Sheerin, Sheeren, Shearne, Shirin, Sheiran, Sheiran, Sherran, Sheeran, and Shenan.

Some of the surnames derived from Shearing may have originated as descriptions of a person's occupation or where they lived. For example, Sharrington, a variation of Shearing, may have originated from someone who lived in a "shire's Town," while Sheerin may have referred to a person who was an expert in cutting hair.

Another variation of Shearing is Shearman, which is a Middle English spelling of the Old English term “scirman,” which literally translates to "shearer." This term was used to refer to both cloth shearers and wool merchants. Furthermore, Sheerin is also occasionally spelt Sheering, which is a variation of the old English term ‘scearing’ meaning "shearing of a fleece."

Other surnames which derive from the same origin as Shearing are Shearington, Sherringham, Sheerin, Shearwood, Shearnes, Shearman, Shearhouse, Shearlock, Shearwood, and Shearinger.

In conclusion, Shearing is a surname with many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin such as Sharring, Sharin, Shearin, Sheering, Sheerin, Shearan, Sheern, Sheernen, Sheerin, Sheeren, Shearne, Shirin, Sheiran, Sheiran, Sherran, Sheeran, and Shenan. Other variants include Shearman, Shearington, Sherringham, Sheerin, Shearwood, Shearnes, Shearman, Shearhouse, Shearlock, Shearwood, and Shearinger.

Famous people with the name Shearing

• George Shearing: renowned jazz pianist and composer, dubbed “The Paducah Pugilist.”
• Dee Dee Shearing: drummer for the funk group Tower of Power.
• Julie Shearing: folk-pop singer-songwriter who has collaborated with musicians such as Conan O’Brien, Jason Mraz, and the Goo Goo Dolls.
• Jack Shearing: rock drummer for the popular bands Phoenix and The Fall.
• Della Shearing: popular British singer and songwriter who has earned two Gold Records and an MBE for her work.
• Gillian Shearing: British singer-songwriter, actress, and voice artist who is best known for her role as the character Verity in the television series The Inbetweeners.
• Arthur Shearing: American composer, lyricist, and musician best known for his work in musical theater and film.
• Simon Shearing: English pop and folk musician who released multiple albums and toured worldwide.
• Michael Shearing: English glass artist whose works have been exhibited in galleries all over the world.
• Buddy Shearing: American rhythm and blues singer and songwriter best known for his hits “Who Wrote the Blues” and “Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well”.

Other surnames

Shearin