Surname De Sire - Meaning and Origin
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De Sire: What does the surname De Sire mean?
De Sire is a French occupational surname derived from the Latin word "desīrāre", which means "to desire". It refers to someone who was a landowner or owned a landed estate, which was originally held by the feudal lord of the area. It likely originated in the Middle Ages when the lords of the manors would employ people to manage their estates.
The word “desīrāre” can also be translated to mean “to wish”. Therefore, the name De Sire may also refer to someone who wished to own a landed estate and eventually achieved this. This occupational surname likely refers to those people who wished, and ultimately succeeded in owning, what were once feudal estates. In many areas of France, particularly in Normandy, the name is still present. So, this is a very old French name that traces its origin origins back many centuries.
The early bearers of the surname were likely of noble descent or had at least some degree of social standing. They may have had some army background, as the owner of a landed estate was a territorial lord who was expected to provide soldiers for the king's army. The De Sire family could even have been descended from the original owners of the estates from which the name was derived.
Therefore, the surname De Sire has a very noble origin, referring to a family of people who had the ambition and good fortune to own their own landed estate back in the Middle Ages. The name still stands today and is present all over France, serving as a reminder of the strong ambitions of those whose names it carries.
Order DNA origin analysisDe Sire: Where does the name De Sire come from?
The last name De Sire is a French surname and is most commonly found in France. According to the records available from local government offices in France, De Sire was the 57th most common surname in the country in 2019. It is most common in regions of France such as Normandy, Brittany, Pays de la Loire, Centre-Val de Loire, and Picardie. It is also relatively common in the French-speaking province of Quebec in Canada.
The surname is derived from the Latin ‘desiderium’, which means ‘desire or longing’, and was once thought to indicate the family’s former aristocratic status. Historically, the name was used in the form of ‘Sire de’. It was usually borne by a man of noble birth, and was often used in conjunction with a first name. It is now a fairly common surname among the French peasant or lower-middle classes.
In America, the last name De Sire can be found in states such as Maine, Virginia, Rhode Island, Louisiana, Missouri, and Texas. In the United Kingdom, the last name is more uncommon, but it does have some presence in the South East, particularly in the counties of Surrey and Sussex.
The last name De Sire is throughout many parts of the world but is mainly concentrated and most common in France.
Variations of the surname De Sire
De Sire is a French surname that has been adopted by various families around the world. It is a topographic name, derived from the French word 'Sire', meaning a nobleman or lord.
The variants of De Sire include De Sirey, Siree, Sirey, Sirêe, and Siret. All of these spellings share the same origin, stemming from the French.
The surnames have spread to various countries throughout the world. In Italy, for example, the surname is Sirella or Sirelli, while in Spain it is spelled Syaire and Sírigo. Additionally, the surnames of Sirey and Siroy have been found in Slovenia and Serbia respectively.
In North America, some of the most popular variations of the surname have been Sirrs and Sorrs. The Irish form of the surname is Sirr, while the Welsh variation is Syer.
No matter the spelling, all the aforementioned surnames still share the same French origin, and are understood to come from the word 'Sire', meaning lord or nobleman. As such, all of the surnames carry a shared history and share the same House of Sire heritage.
Famous people with the name De Sire
- Louis-Joseph de Montcalm de Saint-Veran, Marquis de Saint-Veran: a French military general and governor of Seconda during the Seven Years' War.
- Guillaume de Sire of Pinaton: a writer from the Middle Ages who wrote a number of lyrical works, especially in the Occitan language.
- Jacques de Sire: a Flemish composer of the 16th century, primarily known for writing sacred work.
- Jean Grolier de Servières: a French antique collector from the 16th century.
- François de Sire of Lanchère: an 18th century French politician who served as Minister of Finance for Louis XV.
- Antoine de Sire of Beaulieu: an 18th century architect and draughtsman of Upper-Normandy Province.
- Adrien de Sire of Poussy: a 19th century French poet, writer and playwright who penned several novels and plays.
- Mary Anne de Sire de Favas: a 19th century British socialite known for her beauty of dress and manner.
- Marie-Louis-Ernest de Sire: a 19th century French diplomat, writer, andʼphilosopher who traveled extensively for the France's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Antoine-Louis-Henri de Sire de Méricourt: a 20th century French civil servant, diplomat and Minister of Posts and Telegraphs for the Third Republic.