Surname Callear - Meaning and Origin
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Callear: What does the surname Callear mean?
The last name Callear has roots in English and Scottish history. It is believed to have derived from a combination of the Anglo-Saxon word "cale,'' which means "bold,'' and "leah," which was a word used to indicate a clearing in a wood. Put together, this name can be interpreted as a bold clearing in the woods.
Throughout Scottsh history, people with the surname Callear built a reputation for being independent, entrepreneurial, and hardworking. Many of them had successful businesses in the industrial sectors of their cities. Records of many Callear families can be found in the Scottish Borders, Argyll, and Forfarshire regions.
Today, the last name Callear carries with it an essence of strength, ingenuity, and the willingness to take risks. Those with the last name may take pride in their ancestral heritage, and see their name as a reminder of the courage and independence it took to make a name for yourself in a society with strict class boundaries.
Order DNA origin analysisCallear: Where does the name Callear come from?
The last name Callear is of British origin. It is most common in the United Kingdom, particularly in the North West of England, where it is most highly concentrated in Cumbria and Lancashire. It is also present throughout the rest of the UK, with small pockets of people bearing the name in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
On a global level, Callear is a relatively uncommon name. The United States Census Bureau does not record it as being one of the 1000 most common surnames in the United States in 2020. In Australia, the name Callear is uncommon with just 19 people recorded as having the name in 2016.
The Callear surname is thought to be a variation of the surname Calvert, which was found in England since medieval times and is thought to originate from an Old French nickname "calver" or "calvert" - meaning 'bald'. The origin of the Callear variation of the name is unclear, however, the prefix "cal" is still present and may indicate a place of origin or an occupation.
It is possible that the name Callear is derived from a place-name in Britain, however, no place of this name has yet been identified. Alternatively, the prefix may relate to an occupation, such as a "coaler", who was someone who loaded or unloaded ships with coal.
As a result, the origin of the name is still unclear and research into its source is continuing.
Variations of the surname Callear
The surname Callear is of English origin, hailing from various places in England known as Calehill, Calahill and Kalehill. It is believed that the surname Callear was derived from the Old English word 'cealf' meaning calf.
Variants of the surname Callear include Kelleher, Kaller, Cellar, Kellear and Kellar. The earliest records of this surname were found in the late 15th Century when some bearers of the surname were recorded spelling their surname as Keler in the Poll Tax Records of Yorkshire in 1379.
Other spellings of the surname Callear include Caler, Kaler, Kellar, Kellar, Kellar and Kellir. The earliest records of these spellings is from the Domesday book dated 1086. Some of these records also list the variant Calar.
Different variations of the same name may have been adopted due to dictated language, geographical location, or plain preference. In some cases it was because of discriminatory constraints.
Many surnames have been linked to Callear, such as Kalle, Calling and Callo, which are variants of the name Callere. Similarly, Celer and Cello are believed to have derived from Callear. The Irish Gaelic equivalent of the name Callear is Mac Giolla Chair and some variants include Killelea and Killally.
Other surnames derived from Callear include Kellaway, Kelloway, Helloway and Hellawell. All of these surnames have an English background and can be traced back to Cornwall in the 12th century.
In Scotland, Callear and Kelleher have been recorded as variants of the same surname Calehague, derived from the Old English cealle-haga meaning 'calf-enclosure'. The surnames Callighan, Kallaghan and Kalleighan are considered to have been derived from Callear as well.
Famous people with the name Callear
- Victoria Callear: Broadcasting presenter and reporter who has worked for Sky News, BBC, and ITV
- Steven Callear: British actor and producer
- Mat Callear: British entrepreneur and investor
- Nikki Callear: Former model turned social media influencer and business owner
- Aaron Callear: British Paralympian and charity campaigner
- James Callear: Former professional rugby player
- Frank Callear: Former British Army officer
- Jenny Callear: English singer-songwriter
- Jamie Callear: British comedian and actor
- Tamsin Callear: English actress and author