Origin of the surname Senior

This interesting and long-established surname is an example of that sizeable group of early European surnames that were gradually created from the habitual use of nicknames. These nicknames were given, in the first instance, with reference to occupation, or to a variety of personal characteristics, such as physical attributes or peculiarities, mental and moral characteristics, and to habits of dress. The derivation, in this case, is from the Old French "seignour", Anglo-Norman French "segneur", ultimately from the Latin "senior", elder, and originally denoted an elder or chief, perhaps the lord of the manor, someone who behaved in a lordly manner, or perhaps acted the part of a lord in a local pageant.

The second possibility is that Senior was given as a distinguishing nickname to the elder of two bearers of the same given name, for example, father and son. Early examples of the surname include: Hugh Seinure (Norfolk, 1212); Thomas le Senyur (1271); and Henry Senior (Oxfordshire, 1279). In the modern idiom the surname has no less than fourteen spelling variations including: Seniour, Seanor, Seener, Seignior, Sainer and Senyard. A Coat of Arms granted to the Senior family is a shield divided per fess red and azure with an ermine fess; in chief two gold lions' heads erased, in base a silver dolphin naiant embowed. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter Seignure, which was dated 1164, in the "Pipe Rolls of Norfolk", during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189.

The surname Senior. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

Discovering the historical roots of senior is deeply interesting, as it takes us back to the ancestors and relatives who established this lineage. Research into the possible origins of senior leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname senior is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname senior, and in addition to the original locations of senior, we can find out where people with the surname senior can currently be found.

The surname Senior around the world

Although surnames have a specific origin at a certain time and region of the planet, many of them have spread far and wide across the world for various reasons, as is the case with the surname senior. There is a considerable probability that senior has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where senior is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname senior provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations. The mobility of people carrying the surname senior has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.

History of Senior

The historical chronicle of senior is based on a striking series of events that were led by those who have carried this surname throughout history. The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named senior are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname senior, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of senior developed. The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname senior are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective.

We suggest that if you want to learn more about the surname senior, try to locate it through the bibliographic sources we suggest. It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of senior could be modified. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about senior and send it to us, we will update it on this website. Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname senior or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of senior.

Notable Figures Named Senior

It's more than likely that there have been some distinguished seniors throughout human history. We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname senior, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname senior were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. A surname like senior can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames.

The surname Senior and its bibliographic sources

Thanks to a significant bibliographic review, we have so far compiled information on the heraldry, history, and genealogy of senior. The bibliography collects information related to the surname senior, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of senior are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname senior, as well as many other surnames.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of senior, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Senior