Searles
An English surname meaning “son of Searle,” with Searle itself tracing back to the Norman personal name Serlo.
The #5,627 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 49,975 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Searles is a patronymic surname formed with -s, originally meaning “son of Searle.” The name Searle was an English form of the Norman personal name Serlo, which appears in medieval records and was common enough to generate several surname forms. In older surname collections, Searles is treated as a genitive or possessive form alongside Searle, Searl, and related spellings.
History
Medieval records show many related forms, including Serlo, Serle, Searle, Searl, Searles, Serrell, and Serlson. The spelling with -s is especially characteristic of English patronymic surnames and survived into modern usage. The name has long been established in England and later spread abroad through migration, including to North America.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
A medieval line in the records, “John fil. Serlo,” is cited by older surname scholars as part of the evidence linking Searles to the Norman name Serlo.
From the historical record
“llARLEl-Serle. SEARLES, Searle'S (Son) : v. Se(a)rle. SEARS, Sear's (Son) V SEARSO N, Sear's Son / ^- ''®*'^- SEATH (Eng.) Dweller at a Pit or Pool [O.E. (Heb.) = Seth, q.v. SEATON (Eng.) Bel. to Seaton = 1 the Farm or Estate by the Sea.”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)