Surname Phares - Meaning and Origin
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Phares: What does the surname Phares mean?
The last name Phares is of French origin and dates back to the middle ages. It is derived from the French word “phare”, meaning lighthouse. Historically, the name was given to people who were the caretakers of lighthouses, or someone who worked around lighthouses as a source of income.
In modern times the name Phares is still prevalent and most commonly found in North America. The surname is common throughout the United States but is most prevalent in the coastal states such as Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana.
The surname Phares carries with it attributes of strength, dependability, and readiness. A light house is a source of guidance and security to those sailing its waters, and those with the surname Phares may carry these same traits. As caretakers of light houses, those with the surname Phares may value family, responsibility, leadership, and a strong sense of community.
The surname Phares is an indication of a strong family legacy and an honored profession. Those with the surname understand the importance of guidance and of protecting a community’s welfare. The name is a timeless reminder of the need for trust and for the importance of looking after one another.
Order DNA origin analysisPhares: Where does the name Phares come from?
The last name Phares is most commonly found today in the United States. The 2000 census indicated that Phares was the most common spelling of the name, with over 12,000 families using it. The next most common spelling is Pharris, at about a tenth of the prevalence.
The origin of Phares dates back to the Middle Ages and has since come to signify "one who carries the cross." It is believed to have originated as a French surname. In the 19th century, it was common to find the name in the Texan Hill Country.
Phares is also common in Kentucky and Indiana, and small numbers can be found in Pennsylvania and Ohio. In the more sparsely populated parts of the Southwest and West, groups of Pharess are also found.
People carrying the Phares surname can trace their roots to Wales and other parts of the British Isles. There is also a small population of Pharess in southern Ireland.
Overall, Phares continues to be a common surname in the United States today. Its prevalence has also spread to Canada, Mexico, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand, and can be found in more populated areas of Europe, as well.
Variations of the surname Phares
The surname Phares is traditionally believed to be of French origins. It has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include: Fares, Faire, Farris, Faris, Farres, Pharres, Farris, Farrish, Faras, Farass, Pheares, Phearce, Pheerce and Pharrish.
The surname Fares is thought to be originally derived from the Latin word for iron, which further alludes to the French form of Fair, meaning one with iron-gray hair. This surname was likely a descriptive nickname and later became fixed as a hereditary surname.
The surname Farris is in some cases derived from the biblical name Farris, meaning “iron”, or from the word ferrerie, meaning “iron works”. This name may have originally referred to someone who worked at an iron forge.
The variant spelling Faris is derived from the Old French verb faire, meaning “to do”. This surname was likely an occupational name for a maker of tools and weapons, or possibly a nickname that referred to someone who was known for their strength.
The variant spellings Farres and Pharres, are also thought to be derived from the French word faire, and meaning the same as Faris.
The variant Pheares is thought to be derived from the Olde English name Pheres, meaning stranger. This surname was likely an occupational name for someone who was a foreigner.
The variant Phearce is likely derived from the Old French word ferir, meaning “iron-worker”. This name may have originally referred to a person who worked at an iron forge.
The variant Pharrish is derived from the Olde English word fersce, meaning “a sturdy man”. This name may have referred to a person that was known for their strength and courage.
In conclusion, there are many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Phares. These variants are mostly derived from French, Olde English, and Old French words, and generally refer to occupations and physical attributes.
Famous people with the name Phares
- Dr. Jerry B. Phares, Professor Emeritus within the Arizona State University's faculty
- Warren Phares, an American songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist
- Lydia Phares, an American bobsledder who won a silver medal in the two-woman event at the 2010 Winter Olympics
- Chris Phares, an American radio personality who has worked for numerous stations such as KIOZ and XEMO
- Rebekah Phares, an award-winning American country music singer-songwriter
- Brad Phares, an American author and the writer of several popular series such as the Camp Club Girls and the Sheriff Sam Coleman stories
- John G. Phares, an American actor, director, and writer
- David Phares, a British author and historian who wrote several books such as "The Right of the Line: The Royal Air Force in the European War, 1939-1945"
- Andrew Phares, an American sculptor
- Don Phares, an American Christian missionary and the founder of the religious mission organization Faith Mission International