Early
An English surname that likely began as a place-name, especially from a liberty in Sonning, Berkshire.
The #2,578 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 22,031 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Lower explicitly treats Early as a local name from the liberty of Early in the parish of Sonning, Berkshire. That makes the surname most likely locational, formed from residence in or near that place rather than from the modern adjective early. The place-name itself is older than the surname, but the excerpt does not explain its deeper linguistic roots.
History
This surname is recorded in England and later spread more widely, including to North America. Because the name is also an ordinary English word, it may sometimes be assumed to be descriptive, but the historical surname evidence points to a place-based origin. The Lower entry is brief and does not add early record forms or notable bearers.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
A surname that looks like an adjective can turn out to be a place-name: Lower links Early to a Berkshire locality, not to being 'early' in time.
From the historical record
“" ealdor-man ;" an Earl. See Bosworth. EARLY. A liberty in the parish of Sonning, co. Berks. EARNES. Perhaps Worn the A-Sax. earn, an eagle. EARNSHAW. Local— from A-Sax. earn, an eagle, and sccaga, a wilderness, (Leo) grove, or shaw. EARTHROWL. This remarkable name, which occurs twice in Loudon Direct.,”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom