Origin of Sowray


This is a medieval English surname, but of Norse-Viking pre 8th century origins. Mainly recorded in the modern spellings of Sawrey, Sowray, Sowrey, and Sowrah, the surname is locational from a hamlet called Far Sawrey near Hawkshead, on the west shore of Lake Windermere. This place is recorded as "Sourer" in the Coucher Book of Furness Abbey in 1336, a word which described a wild or uncultivated area of marshes. The north western counties of England were intensively settled by the Norse invaders, who often came from Norway via Ireland and the Isle of Man, whilst at the same time the eastern counties, such as Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, were largely populated by Danes.

In both cases their influence is shown by the large numbers of placenames and hence later surnames, derived from their languages. Locational surnames, such as this one, were a medieval phenomena. At this time, changing social and agricultural practices, particularly those associated with the developing textile industries, created a greater flexibility of labour. As any easy form of identification, people who left their original birthplace to settle elsewhere, were usually called by their new neighbours or workmates, after the place from whence they came. Spelling being at best indifferent, and local dialects very thick, lead to the development of alternative spellings. Examples of the early surname recordings found in the surviving church registers include: William Sowraie of Ulverston, in Lancashire, on July 25th 1551, James Sowrey and Jennett Wilkinson, who were married at the church known as St. Crus, in the city of York, on January 27th 1552; and the christening of Robart Sowray at St. Denis church, also York, on September 15th 1613. The blazon of the coat of arms granted in York in 1666 during the reign of King Charles 11 (1660 - 1685) is: argent, six lions rampant sable, with a canton or. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop", often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

  1. England England
  2. South Africa South Africa
  3. United States United States
  4. Scotland Scotland
  5. Bulgaria Bulgaria
  6. Canada Canada
  7. Germany Germany
  8. Ireland Ireland
  9. India India
  10. Liberia Liberia

The surname Sowray. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

Discovering the historical roots of sowray is deeply interesting, as it takes us back to the ancestors and relatives who established this lineage. Research into the possible origins of sowray leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname sowray, and in addition to the original locations of sowray, we can find out where people with the surname sowray can currently be found. Adhering to what we know about the way surnames originated, it is possible to offer a realistic explanation of the origins of sowray.

The surname Sowray around the world

Although surnames have a specific origin at a certain time and region of the planet, many of them have spread far and wide across the world for various reasons, as is the case with the surname sowray. There is a considerable probability that sowray has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where sowray is most abundant are the following. The mobility of people carrying the surname sowray has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.

History of Sowray

The historical chronicle of sowray is based on a striking series of events that were led by those who have carried this surname throughout history. The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named sowray are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname sowray are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective. In the following lines, you will find everything we have been able to gather about the surname sowray.

We suggest that if you want to learn more about the surname sowray, try to locate it through the bibliographic sources we suggest. It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of sowray could be modified. Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname sowray or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of sowray.

Notable Figures Named Sowray

It's more than likely that there have been some distinguished sowrays throughout human history. We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname sowray, even though not all have been documented to our present day. A surname like sowray can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames. If you or someone you know bears the surname sowray, you could potentially build illustrious lineages through your efforts and virtues.

The surname Sowray and its bibliographic sources

Thanks to a significant bibliographic review, we have so far compiled information on the heraldry, history, and genealogy of sowray. The bibliography collects information related to the surname sowray, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname sowray, as well as many other surnames. Accessing the archives of the town or towns where your ancestors were born and lived is, of course, a good way to trace the origins of sowray.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of sowray, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

  1. Sowry
  2. Sowrah
  3. Sowrey
  4. Saray
  5. Sarray
  6. Sawrey
  7. Schray
  8. Scray
  9. Sora
  10. Sorah
  11. Sorey
  12. Sorrey
  13. Sory
  14. Soury
  15. Sray
  16. Soraya
  17. Souraya
  18. Sharay
  19. Sohra
  20. Sorry
  21. Soura
  22. Suray
  23. Swaray
  24. Sorra
  25. Saera
  26. Sara
  27. Sarah
  28. Sarai
  29. Sarao
  30. Sarey
  31. Sarra
  32. Sarrahy
  33. Sarrai
  34. Sarrau
  35. Sarraya
  36. Sarry
  37. Sary
  38. Saura
  39. Saurau
  40. Saurey
  41. Saury
  42. Scara
  43. Scarry
  44. Schraw
  45. Schrey
  46. Schroy
  47. Scory
  48. Scura
  49. Scurry
  50. Seara