Surname Sawyer - Meaning and Origin

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J. Sawyer

Sawyer: What does the surname Sawyer mean?

The surname Sawyer originates from Anglo-Saxon culture, more specifically in England. The term "sawyer" was a term used for professions during the medieval period; it is derived from the Middle English word "sawier," which means "one who saws." This occupational surname was thus assigned to individuals who made a living by cutting timber, or were sawmen in various capacities, such as shipbuilding where big logs had to be sawn into planks. Typically, such surname distributions were shaped by the individual's trade or craft within the community. Over the years, the surname Sawyer has scattered globally due to migration, hence, it is now recognized and used in numerous parts of the world.

Sawyer: Where does the name Sawyer come from?

The last name Sawyer is most commonly found in the United States and Canada. In both countries, the name is most prevalent in the northern and eastern regions. In the US, the states with the highest number of people with the last name Sawyer are Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. It is also common in states surrounding these regions, including New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. In Canada, the last name Sawyer is most common in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.

Sawyer can also be found in many other countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, the Caribbean islands, Ireland, Scotland, France, and Germany. In all of these countries, the last name is most likely a variation of the English surname, referring to a person who cuts and saws wood.

Regardless of origin, the surname Sawyer is still a relatively common name today and has been for centuries. Popularity of the name seems to suggest it has been a popular choice over the years and probably continues to be so in many countries.

Variations of the surname Sawyer

The surname Sawyer is an occupational surname derived from the Middle English word ‘sagier’, which means someone who cuts timber or fells trees. Alternate spellings of Sawyer include: Sayer, Sawer, Saer, Soore, Saor and Saiers.

Another variant spelling is Soar, which is the Old Norse version of the same name. It is an anglicised version of the Norse word ‘saurr’ which refers to a type of workman who cuts and culls trees. Alternate spellings for Soar include: Sore, Sor, Soore, Sors and Sure.

Surnames of the same origin include: Say, Savory, Cutler, Sayers, and Saw. These surnames all derive from the same root word and refer to someone who works with wood in some capacity.

The meaning of the name Sawyer is also seen in the French surnames Lafosse and Bosse, which both refer to axmen or those who use axes in their work.

In Scotland, the surname Sairs is found, which likely refers to the boundary between England and Scotland called the Sairs or Borderland.

Finally, the Derwentwater surname found in Northern England might also be a variant of Sawyer. It is possible the one who bore this name was a sawyer who lived near a river called Derwentwater.

Famous people with the name Sawyer

• Diane Sawyer: Diane Sawyer is an established American journalist, television presenter and producer who currently anchors the ABC program "Good Morning America". She has won several awards for journalism, including several Emmy Awards.
• Forest Sawyer: Forest Sawyer is a former NFL football player who is currently known for his broadcast work as an analyst for college and NFL football on ESPN.
• Ernie Sawyer: Ernie Sawyer is a former NBA player, having played two seasons with the Sacramento Kings between 1985 and 1987.
• Tom Sawyer: Tom Sawyer is a character from the classic novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. He's an adventurous, mischievous boy that lives near the Mississippi River.
• Joe Sawyer: Joe Sawyer was a Canadian-American actor, most notably remembered for his appearances in the Our Gang comedies of the 1930s and 40s.
• Sam Sawyer: Sam Sawyer is the lead singer of the punk rock/pop punk band Motion City Soundtrack.
• Diane Keaton / Diane Hall: Diane Keaton is a renowned American actress, director, and producer with several awards, including an Academy Award. Her given name is Diane Hall but she gravitated to using her middle name which was "Keaton" after an actor that her mother had a crush on.
• Mike Sawyer: Mike Sawyer is a former ice hockey player who played in the NHL for six seasons.
• Chris Sawyer: Chris Sawyer is a British video game designer and programmer. He is best known for the "RollerCoaster Tycoon" franchise.

Other surnames

Sawyers