Surname Shorpshire - Meaning and Origin
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Shorpshire: What does the surname Shorpshire mean?
The last name Shorpshire is believed to derive from the county of Shropshire in England, which dates back to the 11th century and the Norman Conquest of Britain. The early spelling of Shropshire was "Scrobbesbyrige," which came from Old English "scrob" meaning "marshy land," and ''byrige" meaning "manor or fortified settlement."
The earliest known recorded spelling of the name Shorpshire appeared in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which documented the inhabitants of England and Wales. The spelling of Shorpshire has changed over time, appearing simply as Shropshire in 1301, and as Shawresbury in the late 1400s.
The motto of Shropshire is "Floreat Salopia," which is Latin for "May Shropshire Flourish." The county's origins can still be viewed in architecture and landmarks such as the Iron Bridge, built over the Severn Gorge in 1781.
The surname Shorpshire consequently comes to reflect the land and heritage of Shropshire. As a surname it is not overly common, but is sometimes found in the United Kingdom and other areas with longer histories, where one can trace their genealogical heritage to Shropshire.
Order DNA origin analysisShorpshire: Where does the name Shorpshire come from?
The last name Shorpshire is most commonly found in England. Today, it is most prevalent in eastern England, particularly in the counties of Shropshire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Recorded in these spellings of Sharpshire, Sharpscire, Sharpsheir, Shorpshire, Sharpshirr, Sharpshaire, Sharpsharr, Sharpshyr, and possibly other ancient forms that have long since become extinct, the surname originated in the ancient kingdom of Mercia, from the Olde English pre 6th century words scir, meaning a shire or division of land, and scearp, which has several connotations including a sharp point or summit, an edge or a shard.
The current distribution suggests that the main concentrations of the name in the 18th century belonged to a well-established family group centered around the town of Newport in Shropshire. The same family is found in numerous surrounding parishes - both in Shropshire and Herefordshire.
The Shorpshire name is also found spread further afield in many countries throughout the world including the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Most of the Shorpshire immigrants to these destinationsor in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Shorpshire name continues to grow in popularity, reflecting an increasing globalisation of the population.
Variations of the surname Shorpshire
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Shorpshire are Shorpesheir, Shordshire, Sharpshir, Shorpshir, Sharpsher, Shorpesheire and Sharpeshire.
Shorpshire is an English locational surname derived from one of several villages named Sharpshill, derived from the Old English words "scearp" meaning sharp and "hyll" an upland.
Shorpesheir is an example of a gross spelling mistake resulting from the mishearing of this surname. This alteration of the spelling may have arisen due to a regional accent or rural dialect used by the original speaker.
Shordshire is another variant of the spelling Shorpshire. This may result from how the surname is pronounced in different regions of Britain, as well as the evolution of language over time.
Sharpshir and Sharpsher are variations of Shorpshire adopted from the original spelling following the same pronunciation.
Shorpshir and Sharpeshire are more contemporary spellings of the surname which have arisen due to the continuous evolution of language and changes in pronunciation.
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Shorpshire all derive from the original spelling and pronunciation of the surname. Despite this, the original meaning and origin of the name remains the same.
Famous people with the name Shorpshire
- Mark Shorpshire: a former American football player, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks.
- Jonathan Shorpshire: a British broadcast journalist, currently working with BBC Radio 3 and BBC News.
- Stephania Shorpshire: an American film director and writer, most known for the 2002 romantic comedy Life or Something Like It.
- Jon Shorpshire: an American music producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.
- Adam Shorpshire: a Paralympic American swimmer who has won multiple medals in Paralympic competitions.
- Samuel Shorpshire: a British poet, painter, and novelist, who has published several collections of short stories, as well as his novel, Mesopotamia.
- Lawrence Shorpshire: an American jazz pianist, who has performed and recorded with legendary jazz musician Miles Davis.
- Jay Shorpshire: an American entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist, who is the founder and former CEO of Shorpshire Foods.
- Amber Shorpshire: an American actress, who is best known for her role in the 1989 thriller film, The Stepfather.
- Valerie Shorpshire: a British-Irish-American actress, who has starred in numerous television series, and is known for her roles in the TV shows, Doctor Who and The X-Files.