Surname Emory - Meaning and Origin
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Emory: What does the surname Emory mean?
The last name Emory is of English origin and is derived from the Old English personal name 'Eadmær', which means 'prosperous' or 'rich'. The name is made up of two parts - 'ead' meaning 'prosperity or fortune' and 'mær' meaning 'famous'. Hence, Emory can be interpreted as one who is famously prosperous. The name usually reflects a family's status or position in society during early English history. This surname is common both in British and American populations, and it can be found in various forms such as Emery, Emorey, Emerie, and others. It's also associated with Emory University in the United States, founded by a Methodist bishop named John Emory.
Order DNA origin analysisEmory: Where does the name Emory come from?
The surname Emory has both English and French origins. It is derived from the medieval given name Emery, which is an English form of the Old German personal name Amalric or Aimery. These names are composed of the elements "amal," meaning "labour, work" and "ric," which translates to "power," hence it loosely translates to "industrious ruler."
In France, it originated from the Germanic name "Emmerich," evolved to "Aimery," and then Anglicized to Emory when brought to England after the Norman conquest in 1066 A.D. Emory University, a prestigious college in Atlanta, Georgia, is named after Bishop John Emory, underlining the modification of this surname over generations.
Today, Emory is common primarily in the United States, especially in states like Texas, Georgia, California, North Carolina, and Virginia. Additionally, it is found in England and other English-speaking countries but on a much lower scale compared to the United States. It's important to note variations of the name, like Emery or Amory, may be more or less prevalent in different regions.
Variations of the surname Emory
The surname Emory has several variants and spellings which have originated from different regions across the world. Renowned among them are Emery, Emory, Emerys, Emmery, Emry, Aimeri, Amaury, Aimery, and Aymeri. The spellings Emerie, Emmerie, and Amerie are also seen.
Most of these variants are derived from an ancient personal name in English and French known as "Aimery", composed of the elements "haim" or "heim", meaning home, and "ric", meaning power. The surname has largely been anglicized and regionalized to various forms depending on the pronunciation and local dialects in different regions.
Other surnames linked to the origin of Emory include Emmerich, Emberley, and Emberly. In some regions, the prefix "d'" can also be added before the name, as in D'Emery or D'Emory. These names can be found throughout France, England, and other parts of Europe, as well as in North America.
Many of these variants have also become popular as first names, including Emery, Emory, and Amaury, further increasing the range of this surname's reach and impact. However, the original forms and connotations of the surname have been largely preserved in most of these variations.
Famous people with the name Emory
- Tenley Albright Emory: Former figure skater who won a gold medal at the 1956 Winter Olympics.
- Don Emory: Former professional American baseball player who played in the major leagues from 1979 to 1981.
- David Emory: Conspiracy theorist and radio host of "For the Record."
- William H. Emory: American surveyor and civil war general.
- John Emory: Renowned 19th-century bishop of the Methodist Episcopal church, after whom Emory University is named.
- Lucinda Emory: Actress known for her role in the movie "Guinevere."
- Arlie Emory: Actor recognized for films like "The Manchurian Candidate" (1962) and "Fail-Safe" (1964).
- Ray Emory: Survivor of Pearl Harbor and campaigner for remembrance of the event.
- Arthur Emory: A well-known ice hockey player.
- Jason Emory: American professional basketball player.
- Shelley Emory: British actress recognized for her work in "Casualty" and "Doctors."
- Brett Emory: Famous artist, recognized for being the creative force behind the popular menswear brand, Drifter Industries.