Surname Mears - Meaning and Origin

Unveiling My Ancestry: Voyages of Mears – From an English Sea to Global Boundaries

Discovering the pounds of history our names carry breaks ground for profound self-connection. My iGENEA DNA test revealed a captivating backstory of my surname, Mears. Part English topographic representation, part metonymic occupational title, all compelling fabric of familial patterns and cultural reminiscences spanning out from rural England to pound global beaches, validating those strands of instinctual belonging.

F. Mears

Mears: What does the surname Mears mean?

The surname Mears is of English origin and is derived from an old English term "mære" which translates to boundary or boundary marker. Mears could be an occupational name for a civil official responsible for checking and maintaining boundary markers. It could also be a topographic name for a person who lived by a boundary. Over time, the spelling and pronunciation of the name varied, with Mears, Mear, Mere, and Mares being some of the forms. Surnames often originated from a person's occupation, geographical location, or even physical characteristics. In this case, the surname Mears likely started as a nickname or job title for someone associated with boundary marking or maintenance. As with many surnames, different lineages can have different origins for the same surname, so there can be more than one meaning for the surname Mears.

Mears: Where does the name Mears come from?

The surname Mears is of Anglo-Saxon origin and has two possible sources. First, it could have derived from the Old English pre 7th Century "mære", meaning a boundary or landmark. And it was usually given to people living on the border of two districts. The other origin might be from the Middle English term "mere", which refers specifically to a boundary of water or a lake. Earlier versions of this last name include Meres, Meyers, Mere, Meares, Myres, among several others.

Mears is predominantly found in English-speaking countries and it is especially common in the United Kingdom. According to data from the UK's Office of National Statistics, it ranks among the top 2000 most common surnames. Furthermore, the earliest recording of this surname is in the UK, in the County of Norfolk. In the United States, it isn't among the top surnames, but there is a relatively significant presence. It is also noticed but less wider spread in countries like Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Variations of the surname Mears

The surname 'Mears' has numerous variants and spelling alterations throughout history. Some of these variants include Mear, Mere, Meares, Meer, Meehr, and Mire. The name is believed to have a combined English and Irish origin.

In English, it is taken from the old English word 'mære' which means 'boundary mark'. As a topographic surname, it was given to someone living by a boundary.

In Irish, surnames like 'O'Meara' which means 'descendant of the merry one', could have been shortened and anglicized to 'Mears' during the time when the English suppressed Irish family names.

The surname 'Mears' can also be seen in different forms in Scotland and Wales such as 'Muir' and 'Mure', again depicting a geographical feature.

Additionally, in some instances, it may be a spelling variant of 'Mars', a locative surname from various places in Northern France named with the Old French 'maresc' or 'maresch', meaning 'marsh'.

As a surname, 'Mears' has also been recorded in historical documents with many different spellings, as the literacy rate was not high and names often got written phonetically. These historical variants include Merr, Myrr, Mair, and others.

Famous people with the name Mears

• Rik Mears: British former professional motorcycle racer who competed internationally in the 1980s and early '90s.
• Ray Mears: English woodsman, instructor, author and TV presenter, best known for his television series about survival and the outdoors.
• Richard Mears: American stage, television and film actor.
• Harry Mears: British actor, best known for his role as Hamilton in the 1950s TV series, Hi There, Campers.
• Emily Mears: American actress and model who has appeared in various stage, film and television productions, including the 2015 movie Illumination.
• Chris Mears: British diver and Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
• Damon Mears: American professional basketball player for the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G League.
• Tom Mears: American professional soccer player for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the United Soccer League.
• Matt Mears: American drummer who has toured with the band Cage the Elephant, playing on their 2017 album Unpeeled.
• Barton Mears: American violinist and music educator.

Other surnames

MearesMearse