Surname Powr - Meaning and Origin
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Powr: What does the surname Powr mean?
The surname Powr doesn't have a specific and well-known meaning as it's quite rare and uncommon. It seems to be of an ambiguous origin, possibly suggesting spelling variations of other established surnames. The name could potentially be a deformed variant of the surname 'Power', which is of Irish origin and derived from the Gaelic "de Paor", meaning "the poor man". It could also be morphed from the Polish surname 'Powroz', which is a habitational name for someone from any of several places named Powroźnik. Alternatively, Powr could be a variation of Eastern European or Asian surnames, where spelling can sometimes be changed due to transliteration into English. It is advised for individuals with the last name Powr to look at their personal family histories and geographies to gain more insights into the specific origin and meaning of their name.
Order DNA origin analysisPowr: Where does the name Powr come from?
The Powr surname is most commonly found in Scotland and its neighbouring regions of England and Ireland today. In Scotland, records of the name date back to the 13th century.
The name appears in different forms such as Power, Powers, Pow and Poores but the most common variant is Powr. This suggests that the name was in use by many different families at the time and may have been derived from a common source.
The name is most often associated with the Irish and Scottish branches of the same large family. It is often assumed that the surname originates from an Irish ancestor, although there is debate about whether the name originated in Scotland or Ireland.
In England, the surname appears to have first settled in Derbyshire but is now mainly found in the north of England. Similarly, the surname is quite widespread in the Republic of Ireland, although there is less record of its origin here.
Overall, the Powr surname is more commonly found in Scotland and its neighbouring regions today than in any other country. This is likely due to the strong historical ties of many Powr families in the area, as well as the close geographic proximity of Scotland, England and Ireland.
Variations of the surname Powr
The surname Powr is of Scottish origin, and is also known as Power, Powar, Powre, and Powar in various regions throughout the British Isles. The surname's original form rendered phonetically as "Mac an Bhaird," which was typically Anglicised as MacCurrie, MacVurrie, MacGyver, or MacCovery.
In Ireland, the surname is most commonly found in the surnames Power, Powers, Powyer, McPower, and McPowers. This surname is often anglicised further, either by dropping the Mc (Mac) prefix in some cases, or by dropping the 'er' at the end in others. In Northern Ireland, the spelling might also become Simplon or Shimon.
In Scotland, the surnames Power, Powrie, Powar, Powrie, MacPower, and MacPowrie are most commonly associated with the surname. All of these variations may also be seen in England, as well as Wales and Cornwall.
In the United States, the surname does not appear to be particularly common; however, it can be found variant spellings such as Power, Powers, Powre, Powar, Powrie, and Powar as well as the spellings with the Mac (Mc) prefix.
Whichever the spelling, all of them share the same origin and connection to the Scottish surname Powr.
Famous people with the name Powr
- Samuel Powr: Artist that specializes in painting landscapes and figures from the 20th century
- Kimberly Powr: Actress who appeared on TV shows such as Dexter and General Hospital
- Michael Powr: Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter
- Jack Powr: Professional bass player and session musician
- David Powr: Retired professional hockey player who is now a coach
- William Powr: Contemporary abstract painter who has exhibited in galleries around the world
- Ross Powr: Professional golfer and five-time PGA Tour winner
- Jason Powr: Standup comedian and actor who has appeared on multiple sitcoms
- Stefan Powr: Professional chef and restaurateur who has appeared on various cooking shows
- Kayla Powr: Professional motocross racer and former X Games champion