Surname Souder - Meaning and Origin

Souder: What does the surname Souder mean?

The surname Souder is of German origin, deriving from the Middle High German word "suter," meaning a shoemaker or cobbler. Like many surnames, Souder is an occupational name. These surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups based on their profession. Therefore, the original bearers of the surname Souder would have likely been shoemakers or cobblers. It should be noted that spelling variations for this surname are common due to the old tradition of recording names as they were pronounced. Therefore, it is relatively common to see this family name represented as Suter, Sauter, and Sutor, amongst other variations. Despite these variations, all share the common professional identity of shoemaking in their linguistic roots.

Souder: Where does the name Souder come from?

The last name Souder is commonly found in the United States today, particularly in the northeast. Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and Delaware have relatively high concentrations of the surname. The highest concentration can be found in Pennsylvania, where nearly 11,000 individuals with the surname were reported in the 2000 census.

Souder is also a relatively common name in the Midwestern states of Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. However, it is not as frequently found in other regions such as the Southwest or the West Coast.

In addition, Souder is a popular name internationally, particularly in Germany and other countries in Central Europe. According to Ancestry.com, the name is derived from the German name Sauter and has an English-language equivalent of Sodom.

Genealogists researching the surname suggest a possible French origin for the name Souder, although that has not been confirmed. It is more likely that it originated from Germanic-language regions and then migrated to other parts of the world during the age of exploration and colonization.

Overall, the last name Souder is relatively common throughout the United States and many parts of the world, with particularly high concentrations in the Northeast, Midwest, and Central Europe.

Variations of the surname Souder

The surname Souder is derived from the French word “sousder” which means “to produce wood wool.” This surname can also be spelled in a variety of ways depending on the region and period of time in which it was used. These variants are Sonder, Souder, Soudar, Souders, Sowder, Sowders, Sawder, and Souders.

The surname Souder is often found in Britain, especially in the south of England, however it can also be found in France and other parts of Europe. The most common variants in Britain are Sowder, Souders and Sonder.

The name is also closely related to the Anglo-Norman surname Souders. This variant is found in northern England, particularly in counties such as Yorkshire and Derbyshire. In Scotland, the family of Souder can be found in the area of Perth and Angus, which was part of the traditional Scottish Duchy of Strathearn during the Middle Ages.

In Ireland the name Souder is most common in the counties of Cork and Limerick. It can also be found in some other parts of the country including Dublin, Donegal and Clare. The surname is also present in the US, particularly in Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Overall, the spelling of Souder is very variable and has various regional and historical variants. Other words with similar meanings include Soudiere, Soudier, Soudou, Soudoue, Sowdar, Sawer, and Sowell.

Famous people with the name Souder

• Mark Souder: a former U.S. congressman from Indiana serving from 1995 to 2010.
• Jacob Souder: an American civil engineer who helped create the Northwestern Parkway in Colorado.
• Joseph Souder: an American politician who served as mayor of Port Huron, Michigan from 1988 to 1992.
• Warren Souder: a retired Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Boston Red Sox in 1950.
• Steven Souder: an American actor and singer, known for his roles in the musicals Ain't Misbehavin' and Spamalot.
• Jack Souder: a former professional basketball player, having played for the Denver Nuggets of the NBA.
• Janice Souder: an American Jazz vocalist and pianist who is also active in theatre and dance.
• Josephine Souder: an American-born photographer who was especially known for her portraiture of African Americans in Harlem.
• B. W. Souder: a Methodist Episcopal clergyman, who was an editor and also a prominent figure in the Women's Christian Temperance Union.
• Lucius Richard Souder: a Major League Baseball outfielder who played with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1902 to 1904.

Other surnames

Souders