Surname Seals - Meaning and Origin

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Seeking to unravel the history behind my surname ‘Seals’, I chose the iGENEA DNA test for its accuracy and extensive technical aspects. The results, underpinned by scientific accuracy and precision, offered an enlightening exploration into the European roots and surprising non-European influences of my ancestral lineage. This deepened my association with my surname like never before.

X. Seals

Seals: What does the surname Seals mean?

The surname Seals is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is an occupational name for a hunter or catcher of seals. It derives from the Middle English term "sele,” which is a descendent of the Old English word "seolh," both meaning "seal." Thus, the name Seals would likely have been given to someone who made a living by hunting these aquatic animals. It is important to note that this practice was more common in medieval times when seal meat, fur, and oil were highly valued. This surname is prevalent in England and the United States and it can also be found, albeit less commonly, in Canada and Australia. Like many surnames, variations of spelling can exist, such as Seale, Seal, or Seel.

Seals: Where does the name Seals come from?

The last name Seals is most commonly seen in the United States today, especially in the South and Southwest. It is an English name, with a few Dutch and German variants.

The Seals family is thought to have originated in England, most likely from Counties Durham and Yorkshire. It is likely that the name derived from a personal name like Saleus or a place name like Seale in Wiltshire, Somerset, or Staffordshire.

The Seals surname has been found in numerous early U.S. records, most notably in Virginia during the 1600s. The earliest known record of the Seals name in the New World is of James Seals, recorded in the colony of Virginia in 1632.

Today, the Seals surname is found throughout the United States, and is common in Texas and Oklahoma as well as other Southern and Southwestern states. According to the US Census Bureau, Seals was the 12,767th most common last name in the United States in 2019, the 4,207th most common in Texas, and the 3,179th most common in Oklahoma.

Variations of the surname Seals

The surname Seals is an English and Scottish last name of patronymic origin, which derives from the given name Seally. It is also sometimes spelled as Seles, Seales, Seels, and Sials.

The Seals surname is a variant of the Irish Gaelic “Ó Seaile” which, according to some records, originates from the Mac Uais clan. It is also considered to be an Anglicized form of the Irish name "Ó Síol" which in turn has its origin in the old Irish word “Síol”, meaning "seed".

Variants of the Seals surname include Sails, Seiles, Seyl, Sill, Seel, Seale, Sealle, Sell, Seallee, Sealsy, Seille, Selles, Selews, Seil, Seils, Seyels, Seyls, Sells, and Seylse. Depending on the branch of the Seals family, there could be alternate variants that evolved from the original form.

Additionally, there are distinct regional variations of the Seals name. The Seale and Sealle variations are present primarily in England, while Sealsy is more common in Scotland. Sill is mainly seen in northern England and Seles is the less common variant of this surname.

The Seals surname also has many alternate spellings, including Seals, Seel, Sealsy, Seale, Sealle, Seales, Seils, Seyl, Seills, Sells, Seil, Sail, Seyls, Seille, Sell, Selews, Sellis, and Siel.

In conclusion, the Seals surname has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, indeed. The most common variations of this surname are Seals, Seale, Seales, Sealle, Sails, Seal, and Seils. Other variants and alternate spellings include Seyls, Seille, Seyl, Seils, Seel, Sill, Sell, Selews, Siel, Seylse and Seille.

The surname Seals is believed to have been influenced by patronymic origin, Irish Gaelic, Anglicization of Irish name, and old Irish language. It is also associated with Scotland and England, where regional variants can be seen.

Famous people with the name Seals

• Dan Seals: country music singer and songwriter
• Johnny Seals: blues guitarist and singer
• Michelle Seals: R&B singer
• Mindy Seals: country singer
• Thomas Seals: professional bowler
• Mac Seals: blues artist
• Chris Seals: singer and songwriter
• Domino Seals: jazz and blues artist
• Bob Seals: songwriter and producer
• David Seals: actor and singer
• Jerry Seals: bass player
• Aaron Seals: keyboard player
• June Seals: gospel artist
• J.J. Seals: folk singer
• Celeste Seals: dancer and singer
• Bobbie Seals: funk and soul artist
• Charlene Seals: gospel singer
• Barry Seals: multi-instrumentalist
• Paul Seals: classical guitarist
• Richard Seals: saxophonist

Other surnames

SealSealeSealesSealeySealieSealockSealy