Surname Scarborough - Meaning and Origin

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T. Scarborough

Scarborough: What does the surname Scarborough mean?

The surname Scarborough is of English origin, deriving from the name of the town Scarborough in North Yorkshire, England. The town's name itself is thought to be derived from the Old Norse "Skarthi", a personal name potentially meaning "hare-lipped", and "borg", meaning “fortified settlement”. Hence, the last name could metaphorically mean "from the fortified settlement of Skarthi". The surname's first recorded spelling is in the 11th century, in reference to Thurold de Scardaborg. Like other surnames derived from geographical locations, the surname Scarborough was often bestowed upon individuals who originated from or lived in the area which bore the name thus making the geographical locality a way of identifying individuals. Despite its roots in North Yorkshire, the Scarborough surname is now widespread beyond England, found in numerous countries due to migration.

Scarborough: Where does the name Scarborough come from?

The last name Scarborough is most commonly associated with the coastal town of Scarborough, England, although it is also found in several other countries around the world. In Britain, the name can be found in records dating as far back as the 7th century, and today it remains fairly common in the Yorkshire region. Its popularity has extended into other countries, especially those with historic links to Britain.

In the United States, the name can be traced back to colonial days, when settlers began arriving in the newly-formed colonies. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word “scir” meaning “bright” or “shiny”, which suggests that its original bearers were bright and attractive people. Today, the name is concentrated in the Southern states, including Tennessee, Alabama and Florida.

Scattered across the world, the last name can also be found in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and other countries. In India, the name appears to have taken a different spelling and is commonly seen as Saraswat. Even countries further afield, such as Jamaica, have not entirely escaped the Scarborough name. While the spelling may be different, the name is still seen in these countries.

Overall, the last name Scarborough is found predominantly in English-speaking countries and countries with historic ties to England. It remains a fairly common name, found in records dating back hundreds of years, and its bearers still share the original “bright” meaning of the surname.

Variations of the surname Scarborough

The surname Scarborough is derived from a place name, from the coastal town of Scarborough in North Yorkshire, England. This surname is most commonly spelled as 'Scarborough', however, it can also be found in its various spelling variants and other related surnames.

Other common variants include Scarbrough, Scarboro and Scarborow. Older records may use the Middle English spelling; "Scarburghe". Variants related to these spellings may also exist such as Scaboro, Scabero, Scaborough, and Scarborou.

The surname can also appear with variants based on nationalities, for instance Scarburgh (Norwegian), Scarborow (Polish), Scarbri (Irish), Skarborow (Ukrainian), Escobar (Spanish), Scarpa (Italian), and Scarborough (German).

There are a few extinct surnames related to Scarborough which include; Scarbird, Scarburgh, Scarburghe, Scarbut, and Scarfeld.

In addition to the spelling variations mentioned above, the Scarborough surname is also known by a number of patronymic or matronymic surnames such as Scarbroughson, Scarboroughson, Scarborougheson and Scarborowsen.

Famous people with the name Scarborough

• Joe Scarborough: American news anchor, political commentator, and former congressman.
• Paul Scarborough: American actor and podcaster.
• Mike Scarborough: Former American college football coach and player.
• Breunna Scarborough: American actress and singer.
• Nigel Scarborough: British actor, playwright, and producer.
• Cassius Scarborough: Retired South African cricketer.
• Tommy Scarborough: Former American minor league baseball player.
• Bill Scarborough: Former Canadian politician.
• Eric Scarborough: American film and video game composer.
• Zach Scarborough: American football player.
• Lauren Scarborough: British actress.
• Jimmy Scarborough: Former American professional basketball player.
• Brad Scarborough: American stage actor and singer.
• Brooks Scarborough: American country musician.
• Eddia Scarborough: Retired Trinidad and Tobago footballer.
• Allen Scarborough: American record producer.
• Bob Scarborough: American comic book artist and animator.
• Matthew Scarborough: American professional golfer.
• Karen Scarborough: American political reporter and columnist.
• Denise Scarborough: American professional artist and sculptor.

Other surnames

Scarboro