Search

Recorded in a confusing number and different spellings including Sarch, Sarge, Sarkes, Search, Serck, Searight, Seawright, Serick, Surriidge, Surrage and others, this is an ancient medieval English surname, which derives from an early grouping of personal names. It is to do with the sea, although only in a loose association, in that it derives from a 'fusing' of two Old English pre 7th century personal names. These were 'Soeric' meaning sea-power, and 'Sigeric', meaning victory-power! The elements ric or rich meaning power, which are the usual spelling in early times, often became in 'right or wright' as in the modern Seawright, Seathwright and Searight. Early examples of recordings include Tohn Sarich in the tax rolls known as the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1296, and John Serrche of Sussex in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327. In later church recordings John Search was a christenng witness at St Giles Cripplegate, in the city of London on June 18th 1665, whilst Alice Seawright married Patrick Keef on March 25th 1878 at St. Nicholas, Liverpool. The first recorded spelling of the family name in any form may be that of William Serych. This was dated 1296, in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, during the reign of King Edward 1, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.