NameCensus.

UK surname

Syers

An occupational surname derived from the Old French "seier" meaning a sawyer or woodcutter.

In the 1881 census there were 179 people recorded with the Syers surname, ranking it #13,787 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 216, ranked #18,613, down from #13,787 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bentham, London parishes and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Craven, Warrington and Halton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Syers is 245 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.7%.

1881 census count

179

Ranked #13,787

Modern count

216

2016, ranked #18,613

Peak year

2009

245 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Syers had 179 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,787 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 216 in 2016, ranked #18,613.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 219 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Syers surname distribution map

The map shows where the Syers surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Syers surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Syers over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 163 #12,156
1861 historical 170 #13,763
1881 historical 179 #13,787
1891 historical 212 #14,318
1901 historical 219 #14,292
1911 historical 216 #14,240
1997 modern 226 #16,306
1998 modern 235 #16,358
1999 modern 230 #16,685
2000 modern 235 #16,423
2001 modern 236 #16,094
2002 modern 231 #16,677
2003 modern 228 #16,663
2004 modern 227 #16,778
2005 modern 230 #16,583
2006 modern 231 #16,636
2007 modern 239 #16,449
2008 modern 239 #16,583
2009 modern 245 #16,646
2010 modern 240 #17,230
2011 modern 232 #17,481
2012 modern 217 #18,184
2013 modern 215 #18,598
2014 modern 218 #18,583
2015 modern 217 #18,542
2016 modern 216 #18,613

Geography

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Where Syers' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bentham, London parishes, Toxteth Park, West Derby and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Craven, Warrington, Halton and Rossendale. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Bentham Yorkshire, West Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 West Derby Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Craven 003 Craven
2 Warrington 008 Warrington
3 Halton 006 Halton
4 Rossendale 003 Rossendale
5 Warrington 006 Warrington

Forenames

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First names often paired with Syers

These lists show first names that appear often with the Syers surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Syers

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Syers, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Syers surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Syers household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Syers is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Syers is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Syers falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Syers is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Syers, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Syers

The surname SYERS has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "sier," which means "to cut" or "to shear." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who worked as a shearer or cloth-cutter.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SYERS surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a Richard le Syer in Oxfordshire. This early spelling variation, "le Syer," provides insight into the name's evolution over time.

In the 14th century, the SYERS name appeared in various medieval records and manuscripts, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mentions a John Syers. This indicates that the surname had spread to different regions of England by this point.

During the 15th century, the SYERS name was associated with several notable individuals. One example is John Syers, a merchant and landowner in Somerset, who lived from around 1420 to 1490. Another is William Syers, a clergyman and scholar who served as the Archdeacon of Taunton from 1472 to 1499.

In the 16th century, the SYERS surname continued to be prevalent in various parts of England. One notable figure from this period was Thomas Syers, a lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury in 1553.

The 17th century saw the rise of several SYERS families in different counties. One prominent individual was Robert Syers, a wealthy landowner and philanthropist from Yorkshire, who lived from 1620 to 1692. Another was John Syers, a successful merchant and ship owner from Bristol, who was born in 1648 and died in 1712.

Throughout these centuries, the SYERS surname was also found in various place names and local dialects. For example, the village of Syerscote in Gloucestershire is believed to have derived its name from the SYERS family who resided there in the Middle Ages.

While the SYERS surname may have originated from a specific occupation, it has since become widely dispersed across England and beyond, with many individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Syers families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Syers surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 46 Syers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.22x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 46 2.22x
Surrey 24 2.82x
Middlesex 23 1.32x
Yorkshire 17 0.98x
Cheshire 9 2.33x
Northumberland 9 3.46x
Devon 8 2.20x
Durham 7 1.35x
Staffordshire 7 1.19x
Northamptonshire 5 3.04x
Cumberland 3 2.00x
Essex 3 0.87x
Herefordshire 3 4.19x
Warwickshire 3 0.68x
Derbyshire 2 0.73x
Kent 2 0.34x
Suffolk 2 0.94x
Cornwall 1 0.51x
Gloucestershire 1 0.29x
Lanarkshire 1 0.18x
Montgomeryshire 1 2.50x
Sussex 1 0.34x
Westmorland 1 2.61x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 12 Syers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.76x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 12 10.76x
Langcliffe 12 2926.83x
Bedlington 9 103.69x
West Derby 8 13.20x
Bishopwearmouth 7 15.70x
Ottery St Mary 7 294.12x
Garston 6 98.04x
Islington London 6 3.55x
Litherland 6 138.57x
Liverpool 6 4.77x
Horton In Ribblesdale 5 1562.50x
Peterborough 5 42.05x
Toxteth Park 5 7.13x
Warrington 5 20.36x
Acton 4 39.06x
Battersea 4 6.23x
Bermondsey 4 7.70x
Bilston 4 35.03x
Hampstead London 4 14.71x
Birmingham 3 2.04x
Burslem 3 17.77x
Hale 3 225.56x
Hoose 3 416.67x
Lambeth 3 1.97x
Newton In Makerfield 3 47.32x
Rusholme 3 54.25x
St Marylebone London 3 3.22x
Bakewell 2 133.33x
Dilwyn 2 317.46x
Hulme 2 4.62x
Liscard 2 28.82x
St Pancras London 2 1.42x
West Ham 2 2.63x
Woodbridge 2 73.53x
Aylesbeare 1 188.68x
Bowness 1 172.41x
Broadwater 1 14.81x
Canterbury St Augustine 1 454.55x
Chelsea London 1 1.90x
Cheltenham 1 3.79x
Ditton 1 117.65x
Everton 1 1.51x
Govan 1 0.72x
Hackney London 1 1.02x
Kensington London 1 1.03x
Keswick 1 52.08x
Leyton 1 16.84x
Llanwarne 1 454.55x
Mallerstang 1 625.00x
Mile End Old Town 1 3.63x
Pool 1 33.11x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 2.85x
St Germans 1 72.46x
St Mary Within 1 53.19x
Swanscombe 1 37.31x
Tranmere 1 7.06x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Syers surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 20
Ann 5
Ada 4
Fanny 4
Harriet 4
Catherine 3
Elizabeth 3
Ellen 3
Alice 2
Amy 2
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Eleanor 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Jane 2
Lucy 2
Sarah 2
(Mrs.) 1
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Cath. 1
Clara 1
Dinah 1
Elisabeth 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Julia 1
Lillian 1
Louisa 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
R.L. 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Syers surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 17
Thomas 12
John 8
George 5
Arthur 4
Alexander 3
Charles 3
James 3
Alfred 2
Edgar 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Henry 2
Herbert 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Wm. 2
Albert 1
C.T.L. 1
Daniel 1
Elles 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Joseph 1
Marten 1
Michael 1
Perryn 1
Philip 1
Richard 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Syers surname: questions and answers

How common was the Syers surname in 1881?

In 1881, 179 people were recorded with the Syers surname. That placed it at #13,787 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Syers surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 216 in 2016. That gives Syers a modern rank of #18,613.

What does the Syers surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Old French "seier" meaning a sawyer or woodcutter.

What does the Syers map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Syers bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.