Surname Scarbro - Meaning and Origin
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Scarbro: What does the surname Scarbro mean?
The surname Scarbro is believed to be of English origin, likely derived from the town of Scarborough located in North Yorkshire, England. The name Scarborough is itself derived from the Old Norse words "Skarthi", a personal name, and "Borg", meaning a fort or stronghold. So, the entire name could be translated to "Skarthi's fort". Individuals were often given surnames connected to geographic locations. Thus, the original holder of the surname Scarbro could have been someone who hailed from Scarborough. Over time, Scarborough could have been phonetically shortened and simplified to become Scarbro in certain dialects. It should be noted that spelling of surnames changed and evolved over centuries based on local customs and pronunciation. Therefore, there might be numerous variations in the spelling of similar surnames.
Order DNA origin analysisScarbro: Where does the name Scarbro come from?
The last name Scarbro is most commonly found today in the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, there are currently 370 people in the U.S. with the last name Scarbro. Those with the last name are predominantly found in the North Central U.S., with most living in Illinois, Michigan, and South Dakota. Other states with smaller populations of Scarbros include Wyoming, Missouri, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
In addition to the last name being found the United States, it has spread to other areas of the world like Canada, Australia, Columbia, and Peru.
The origin of Scarbro can be traced back to the British Isles, where it originated as a locational name. There are also two British spelling variations, Scarbra and Scarbroe. The earliest records of the last name found were in the 1200s in Yorkshire, England.
In England, Scarbros were largely farmers, but some were craftsmen. There are also records of Scarbros serving in the military, like in the Rebellion of 1688.
Today, Scarbros are mostly found in the United States, but there is a small percentage spread across the world. Although the population is relatively small, those with the last name are cherished and proud of their heritage.
Variations of the surname Scarbro
Scarbro is an English surname that dates back to the 11th century. The name derived from the Old English words ‘sc’ meaning ‘sharp’ and ‘broc’ meaning ‘brook or stream’, literally translating to ‘sharp stream or brook’. Spelling variations of Scarbro have included Scarbrough, Scarbroughe, Scarbro, and Scarborow.
The Scarbro surname is found mostly in the north east of England and appeared in Yorkshire as early as 1363. Variations and spellings of the name have been found in many county records over the years in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Durham, Cumberland, Lincolnshire, and Northumberland though to less prominent counties such as Somerset and Wiltshire.
Surnames in the modern era can be almost as varied as the population with many individuals adopting different variations for their own purpose. Scarbrough is a popular surname in the United States of America, brought to the east coast as immigrants from England. Scarbro is still a common spelling and variation of the name in Yorkshire and the north east counties of England.
Other spellings of the same origin include Scarbor, Scarbron, and Scarbourn. Variations of today’s spelling include Scarbroe, Scarbrou, Scarbrough, Scarbrourough, Scarbroughs, Scarburough, Scarbruh, Scarburrow, and Scarbrooke. Surnames of a similar origin include Scarbary, Scarberry, Scarbis, Scarbot, Scard, Scaresbro, and Scarf.
Famous people with the name Scarbro
- Daryl Scarbro: Football player.
- Amy Scarbro: Singer-songwriter and former member of the band Eli Young Band.
- James Scarbro: Award-winning playwright and screenwriter.
- Don Scarbro: American racing and stunt driver, club racer, and world champion.
- Jon Scarbro: Professional golfer on the Champions Tour.
- Alan Scarbro: Jazz singer and songwriter.
- Robert Scarbro: Producer and director of film, television and live events.
- Henry Scarbro: Author and historian.
- Tom Scarbro: Actor known for his roles in the movies The Hours and The Vanishing of Sidney Hall.
- Claire Scarbro: Actor and model from New Zealand.