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I just watched the news and came across the name Searl. It was the first name of a man living in South Africa. I've never seen or heard it before. I would like to know the meaning and origin of Searl. Also is it pronounced like Earl with an S?
Thanks in advance
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Hey you! Out there in the cold, getting lonely, getting old, can you hear me?
Thanks in advance
Hey you! Out there in the cold, getting lonely, getting old, can you hear me?
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Replies
Hi
Your message caught my eye as I know of an English family (they were English but had S African associations) who emigrated to South Africa several years ago, and their eldest son was (is) called Searle (this spelling). I have no idea where his name originated, but he has two brothers with "funky' names, so always assumed that his parents just liked names which were more unusual. Presumably you saw the spelling; if you don't know the prononciation, then did you only see it written down? If that's the case then you spelt it without the final 'e', so I suppose that's what you saw. Interesting, though, as I've never come across another Searle (and it's said to rhyme with "girl". Obviously in English we don't over-accentuate the "r", so it's more like "Suuuhl", iyswim). What was he on the news for? Was he very old? The one I know is in his late 20s, and as I said they had previous associations with South Africa so I suppose he could have been named with an older "Searle" in mind. Intriguing!
Your message caught my eye as I know of an English family (they were English but had S African associations) who emigrated to South Africa several years ago, and their eldest son was (is) called Searle (this spelling). I have no idea where his name originated, but he has two brothers with "funky' names, so always assumed that his parents just liked names which were more unusual. Presumably you saw the spelling; if you don't know the prononciation, then did you only see it written down? If that's the case then you spelt it without the final 'e', so I suppose that's what you saw. Interesting, though, as I've never come across another Searle (and it's said to rhyme with "girl". Obviously in English we don't over-accentuate the "r", so it's more like "Suuuhl", iyswim). What was he on the news for? Was he very old? The one I know is in his late 20s, and as I said they had previous associations with South Africa so I suppose he could have been named with an older "Searle" in mind. Intriguing!
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I'm sure Anneza's explanation is more likely, but I knew there was something familiar about Searl and I just realized it was Searlas I was thinking of. I don't know if it's possible that Searl is a short form or nickname of Searlas, or if a guy in South Africa might be named that. But it was a thought.
This message was edited 11/29/2011, 5:05 AM
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surnamedb.com is a good site. They say that: Recorded in several spellings as shown below, this is a very early English medieval surname. It derives from a personal name which may have been already present in the British Isles before the Norman French conquest of 1066. This was Serilo possibly from the word searlu, meaning armour, and giving a possible meaning of defender or protector. The personal name was popular fro several centuries and is first recorded in the famous Domesday Book of 1086 in the county of Essex. Other examples include Serlo le Flemyng of Lincolnshire, in 1150, and Serle Gotokirke of Cambridgeshire in 1273. Early examples of the surname recordings include Hugo Serle of Dorset in 1250, and William Serell of Yorkshire, in the poll tax register of 1379.
Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Searle#ixzz1eyjruZB1
It is pronounced "like Earl with an S" - good explanation! I've never seen it used as a fn in South Africa, but these things happen. There is a well-known chain of shoe shops here called Searle's and their founder, Aaron Searle, was a notable philanthropist.
Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Searle#ixzz1eyjruZB1
It is pronounced "like Earl with an S" - good explanation! I've never seen it used as a fn in South Africa, but these things happen. There is a well-known chain of shoe shops here called Searle's and their founder, Aaron Searle, was a notable philanthropist.
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