Surname Sorrels - Meaning and Origin
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Sorrels: What does the surname Sorrels mean?
The last name Sorrels is believed to be of French origin, stemming from the Old French "sorel" which means "reddish-brown hair". It was originally a nickname given to someone with reddish or light brown hair. Over time, it became a surname passed down through generations. Like many surnames, it could also possibly be linked to a specific geographical location. However, it's important to remember genealogical variations of spelling when researching the lineage of this last name. Other variations of the name may include Sorrell, Sorel, Sorrill, and others. As with any surname, individual families with the last name Sorrels may have their own interpretations or family traditions related to the meaning of the name.
Order DNA origin analysisSorrels: Where does the name Sorrels come from?
The last name Sorrels is most commonly found in the United States of America, where it is the 555th most common name, according to the 2010 census. Specifically, the surname is most heavily concentrated in Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Alabama. The four states make up 30.1%, 15.2%, 13.9%, and 6.9% respectively of the overall Sorrels population in the United States. The surname is of French origin, and is most likely derived from the Old French ‘sorrel’, meaning ‘a reddish-brown horse’.
The origins of the surname are somewhat contested, however, with some theorizing that it is either an altered form of the French surname ‘de Sorel’, or alternatively derived from the Old German ‘Sorel’, used to denote someone from Sorel, Picardy. Due to its French influence, the name may also be found today in some English, Canadian, and Caribbean contexts.
Today, the surname Sorrels may provide clues to its bearers’ roots in the U.S. or elsewhere. The name itself is likely to evoke some degree of nostalgia amongst those living in the four states where it is most commonly found, allowing the bearers a sense of connection to the past and their ancestors, however distant they may be.
Variations of the surname Sorrels
The surname Sorrels has several variants, spellings, and surnames that trace back to the same origin.
Variants of the surname include Sorrel, Surrell, Surrells, and Surrills. Spellings of Sorrels include Sorrell, Sorrells, Sarrel, Sarrell, and Sarrells.
Surnames that have the same origin as Sorrels include Sorel, Sorill, Serrell, and Serrells.
Surnames that have originated from Sorrels include Sorling, Sorluce, Sorloce, Surrow, and Surroze.
Other related names include Sorlen, Sorlien, Sorlein, Sorlan, and Sorland. Sorrellen, Sorellan, Sorrillan, Sorlenas, Sorlyns, Sorrens, Sorlyns, Sorlens, and Sorlyn are also forms of Sorrels.
The surname has been present in England since the 13th century. During this time, those bearing the surname were found in the counties of Lancashire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire. In Scotland, the surname is derived from the placename of Sorrell.
In more recent times, locations where individuals with the surname can be found include the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The surname is also found in countries such as Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, although these variants are likely to be used mainly as a given name.
The etymology of the surname Sorrels is derived from the Old French sur, meaning "over" or "above", and els, meaning "plains" or "fields". It is thought that the name referred to someone who had a dwelling on the elevated parts of a settlement or on a hillside.
Famous people with the name Sorrels
- Nobody's Girl: a duo featuring Bernice Sorrels
- Hal Sorrels: an American stuntman
- Ryan Sorrels: an American Folk musician
- Jessie Sorrels: a 19th Century African-American poet
- Jack Sorrels: a professional baseball pitcher
- Raymond Sorrels: an American television director
- Lane Sorrels: a US Navy Pilot
- Corinne Sorrels: an American Folk Singer
- William Sorrels: a Confederate officer during the American Civil War
- Zack Sorrels: a retired NASCAR driver