Surname Usury - Meaning and Origin
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Usury: What does the surname Usury mean?
Usury is not a common last name; it is more commonly recognized as an English term with roots in the late Middle Ages. The term "usury" refers to the act of lending money at unreasonably high interest rates, typically exploiting the desperation or financial ignorance of the borrower. Historically, charging any interest on a loan was considered usury.
The term has evolved over time. Initially, it was associated with any interest, but later it was linked only to excessive interest rates. Nowadays, it's less commonly used in popular parlance but still appears in financial environments.
If Usury were a last name, its meaning would likely be disconnected from this historical usage. Most surnames have roots in professions, geographical locations, or physical descriptions, and few have roots in abstract concepts like usury.
Names can evolve and change with language, so while it may be unusual, it's not impossible for a last name to be Usury. However, this would rather be uncommon and it doesn't carry a specific meaning as a family name.
Order DNA origin analysisUsury: Where does the name Usury come from?
Usury is not a common name today, however it originates from France and was historically common in parts of the Languedoc region of France. The name is derived from the term ust, meaning a person performing financial services usury being the practice of lending money at an exorbitant rate of interest. It is believed that the name was first granted as a nickname to someone who engaged in the practice of usury, most likely a loan or moneylender. In more recent centuries, the Usury name has become tied to banking and finance particularly in the United States, where Usury and Usury Laws have become part of the financial landscape. Usery Banks were started more than 100 years ago and there are still some financial institutions today with the Usury name, such as Usury Bank in Maryland and Usury Credit Union in Utah.
Variations of the surname Usury
The surname Usury has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some of the most common variants of Usury include Ushery, Ussery, Ussory, Usheray, Ussary, Ushary, Uspury, Uspuray, Ushuray, Ushry, Usrary, Ushrury, Ushory, Ussury, Uscary, Uschary, Usgary, Usgarye, Ushary, Ussray, Usheimer, Uschry, and Ushrye.
Many of these variants stem from the Old French ‘ousier’, which was an early term for a usurer or a lender of money. This term could have also evolved to include the more modern English terms, such as Usshery, which emerged in the 16th century. From there, regional variations of the spelling, as well as, occasionally, misread or mistransociated versions, have all contributed to the diverse range of surnames that can be found today.
Ushery is the surname most likely to be found widely distributed in Yorkshire and Derbyshire. OtherUshery related spellings, such as Ussery, Ushry or Ushrury can be found outside of these areas, and typically in the Southeast, such as the counties of Kent and Sussex.
The Usury spelling is believed to have originated in Ireland, where the variants Ussory, Usary, Uspury, Uspuray, and Ussray are still witnessed. Scottish variants, such as Ussury and Uscary, are also commonly found, as well as Usgarye, Uschary and Uschry, which have all been noted in Northern England.
Finally, the surname Usheray is a relative newcomer to the Usury family-tree, having come about at the beginning of the 19th century. This is believed to have been a politically motivated spelling change, in order to set themselves apart from the more traditional Usury spelling, and to give the impression of affluence and wealth.
Famous people with the name Usury
- Joe Usury: A professional basketball player from the US, who has played in the NBA for teams such as the Dallas Mavericks, the Boston Celtics, and the Orlando Magic.
- Jean Usury: A French composer and pianist, whose repertoire includes music for the orchestra, chamber ensemble, and piano.
- Jacque Usury: An American actor and musician, best known for his performance in the films “Gone in 60 Seconds” and “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”.
- John Usury: An English businessman and philanthropist. He founded the John Usury Charitable Trust Fund, which has provided support for many charities and organizations.
- Thomas Usury: A Swiss philosopher, professor, and writer, whose most notable works include “On the Nature of Mind and The Human Condition”.
- Stephen Usury: An Australian cricket player, who has been a member of the national cricket team since 2008.
- Phillip Usury: A British golfer, who has won several tournaments including the British Open, the US Open, and the Masters.
- Samantha Usury: An American singer-songwriter, who debuted her album “Girl in the Dark” in 2016.
- Mike Usury: A British footballer, who currently plays for Manchester City.
- Bill Usury: An American philanthropist, who founded the Usury Foundation, which has donated to numerous organizations and charities.