Surname Vories - Meaning and Origin
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Vories: What does the surname Vories mean?
The surname Vories is of unknown origin. It might be a variant of the Dutch surname Voris, itself a patronymic form of the Dutch personal name Vor, meaning "fearless". Another possibility is that it could have derived from the French surname Levoré or Lavore, which is a metonymic occupational name for a washerwoman from the Old French term "lavoir", meaning "to wash". Like many surnames, exact origins can be difficult to trace due to changes in spelling, migration, and other historical factors. Always consider that surnames may have multiple origins. The Vories family history would provide a more accurate understanding of the name's origin. Keep in mind that the meaning of a surname varies with its country of origin and historical era.
Order DNA origin analysisVories: Where does the name Vories come from?
The last name Vories is especially common in the southeastern United States. Particular regions in which this name is frequent include Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and North Carolina. During the 19th Century, many immigrants bearing the Vories surname settled the southeastern United States, which may explain the prevalence of the name in the region today.
It is unclear when the family first arrived in this corner of the United States. According to some sources, Vories descendants emigrated from various countries in Europe during the 1600s and 1700s, such as England, Ireland, Germany, and elsewhere. Some branches of the family may have arrived in the Americas earlier than this, likely traveling through France and ultimately settling in the colonies.
The surname Vories may also be found in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, albeit with less frequency. Cases of the name in other parts of the United States, such as the Midwest and the West Coast, are rarer, but certainly not unheard of. Moreover, there are even a few Vories families in Canada, likely by way of their ancestors leaving the United States searching for greater economic opportunities at the turn of the century.
Variations of the surname Vories
The Vories surname is thought to have originated in medieval England and dates back to as early as the 12th century. There are several variants, spellings and surnames believed to have sprung from the original Vories family line such as Veares, Veary, Vearies, and Vary.
The Varies surname and its variants were also widely recorded in Scotland during the mid- to late-16th century, and some records have been found in Ireland where it is spelled Vearey. Variations of the Vories surname have been found during this same period in Scotland, Ireland, and America.
The original variants of the name are usually spelled with a ‘v’ or a ‘ph’ and are often interchangeable. For instance, some spellings of the Vories surname were Vorys, Voris, Voriso, Voorys, Voreys and Voriez (or Vorisz). In Northern Ireland, some variations of the family name were Vareis and Varrys.
The earliest record of the family was found in East Anglia in the 12th century, with varying records from England, Ireland, Scotland and America throughout the centuries since then.
Vories is commonly found in the United States from immigration of the early 1800s. It is also fairly common in Canada among individuals of Irish heritage, as well as amongst some naitive Indians. The Varies surname is also present in Germany, particularly in the state of Bavaria.
In most cases, each variant is a representation of the original spelling, so for example a Vories can also be spelled any of these derivatives. Though spellings may have changed, each variation is ultimately linked to the original surname.
Famous people with the name Vories
- William Joseph Vories: a military officer who served with the United States Army Air Corps, a World War II veteran, a recipient of the Silver Star, and an expert on cold-weather aviation.
- Stephen Vories: an American drag racer and Pro Stock driver in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.
- Gary Vories: an American comic book artist and illustrator known for his work for Marvel Comics and DC Comics.
- Charles Harold Vories: an American physical chemist who developed the concept of relative activity and the Vories equations.
- James Vories: an adventure tourism guide, photographer, and filmmaker from the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina.
- Clifford F. Vories: an American poet and novelist whose works explored racial relations, religious conflicts, and the everyday struggles of common people.
- Samuel Vories: an American flutist and teacher who performed with the Juilliard Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.
- J.R. Vories: a highly-regarded American film editor, best known for his work at CBS News, where he edited and produced hundreds of documentaries.
- Laura Vories: an American playwright and theatre director whose plays focus on issues of identity, family dynamics, and generational gaps.
- Elayne Vories: a prize-winning American short story writer and novelist best known for her short stories which explore the themes of memory, identity, and family.