Surname Shores - Meaning and Origin

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Shores: What does the surname Shores mean?

The surname Shores is of English origin and is believed to be a topographic or geographic name derived from the Old English term "scear", meaning the brink or edge of a river or sea. It was typically given to those who lived near the shore, by a river or sea coast. It also could have been used to denote someone who worked on or near the sea shore, perhaps a fisherman or a dockworker. The name could also potentially originate from a place called Shore, in Lancashire. Like many old English surnames, it can be traced back to medieval times and has various different spellings, including Shore, Shoare, Shoer, Shoreman, Shores, and others. Notable people with the surname include actor Dinah Shore and singer Eddie Shores. Today, it is found in many English-speaking countries, primarily in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Shores: Where does the name Shores come from?

The last name Shores is most commonly found throughout the United States. The most populous states for the Shores family name are North Carolina, Virginia, Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.

The Shores surname likely originated in Britain as a topographical name derived from a shore or seafront, denoting a residence by the shore. By the 17th century, the surname had spread throughout the British Isles and the lowland regions of Scotland.

In America, many of the first Shores families arrived in the early 1700s, fleeing religious persecution in Europe. Many Shores families settled in the port cities of Massachusetts, Maine, and Virginia. Others traveled westward, to Ohio, Missouri, and across the Appalachians to settle in the deep South.

Today, the Shores name is found in cities across the U.S. Chatham County, in North Carolina, is home to the highest concentration of Shores, with Suffolk, Virginia, Pulaski, Tennessee, and Greene County, Ohio, also having notable numbers of the surname. Outside of the U.S., Shores can also be found throughout Canada, Great Britain, and Australia.

Variations of the surname Shores

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname "Shores" include Shor, Shore, Schore, Shoor, Schoor, Shorrs, Shorre, Shorr, Sure and Suree.

The surname "Shores" originally derives from the Old English word "shor" which is a reference to someone who lives by the sea shores. For instance, a "Shores" would refer to a family who own or lived by the sea shores. As such, many variants of the surname arose from the development of regional accents and dialects over time. The surname can also be found spelled as "Shore" or "Shoor", a common variant in the British Isles.

In Germany, the surname "Schore" or "Schoor" can be found, which is a spelling influenced by the German language. In the Netherlands, the surname "Shorrs" is a variant spelling related to the Dutch language, while in Scotland "Shorre" or "Shorr" are variant spellings.

In the United States, the surname "Shores" is often spelled "Sure" or "Suree", a form of the original spelling. It is thought that these variant spellings arose from the influence of the British settlers who settled in the United States in the 17th and 18th century.

Despite the various spellings, all of these variations of the surname are related, referring to someone who lived by the sea and is ultimately derived from the Old English word "shor".

Famous people with the name Shores

• Dickie Shores: English footballer
• Nathan Shores: Canadian actor
• Kally Shores: American actress
• T.O. Shores: American filmmaker
• Rhea Shores: American journalist
• Tyler Shores: American singer-songwriter
• Jesse Shores: American mathematician
• Willard Shores: American composer
• Pip Shores: British fashion designer
• Jonathan Shores: American painter

Other surnames

ShoreShorey