Surname Shor - Meaning and Origin
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Shor: What does the surname Shor mean?
The surname "Shor" has origins in multiple cultures and its meaning can vary depending on the cultural context. In some cases, it originates from Jewish (Ashkenazic) culture, where "Shor" derives from the Yiddish language meaning a "bull". The name might have been used as a nickname for a strong, bull-like person or as a metonymic occupational name for a keeper of cattle. In other cases, it comes from Central and Eastern Europe, where "Shor" or "Schor" are anglicized forms of names like Schur, which is derived from the Middle High German "schuo(w)er" meaning “sewer” or “water carrier”. It could have been used as an occupational name for someone who worked as a water carrier or someone living by a sewer, drain, or water channel. Some other possible interpretations could include an acronym for a Hebrew phrase or an origin from Russian/Ukrainian "Shor" meaning a tinker or coppersmith. Thus, the exact meaning of the last name "Shor" may differ significantly based on cultural and geographical factors.
Order DNA origin analysisShor: Where does the name Shor come from?
The last name Shor is most commonly found today in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Israel, and Germany. In the United States, the name Shor is most concentrated in the states of New York and California. In the United Kingdom, the highest concentration of Shor’s is in London, followed by East Midlands, Yorkshire and Lancashire, and the South East and North West England.
Within the Jewish diaspora, the last name Shor originated in Eastern Europe and has since become very common in Israel. In the last two decades, a large number of Russian immigrants have been settling in Israel, bringing the name Shor with them.
In Germany, the last name Shor is particularly concentrated in the state of Hesse.
Interestingly, Shor is also a Chinese surname, which is usually written as Su or So. It is thought to be of Manchu origin and is most commonly found in the provinces of Shandong and Henan.
Variations of the surname Shor
The surname Shor is believed to have originated from a distinctly Jewish background, with the Hebrew word meaning ‘short’ or ‘brief’ being given as one of its possible sources. Other variants of this name include Schorr, Shorr, Schore, Shore, and Shores.
In countries that use the Latin alphabet, the spelling of Shor is generally altered to fit the phonetic sounds of the language, resulting in the Germanic Schore, the Dutch Shor, or other variations such as Schorr. In some Yiddish dialects, Shor is pronounced differently and spelled variously as Chor, Schor, or Schorr.
Many variants of Shor have developed in anglophone countries over the ages. In England, the surname is sometimes used as Shore or Shores, while in Ireland, it is sometimes found as Shorland. In Scotland, Shor is also sometimes transliterated as Chore.
Various surnames of similar origin to Shor have formed over time, such as Shoers, which is derived from the Dutch spelling of Shor, or Schwarz, meaning ‘black’ in German.
In short, Shor is a surname with many variants, surnames, and spellings. It is believed to have descended from the Hebrew word for ‘short’, with the most common spelling in English-speaking countries being Shore. Other variants, spellings, and surnames may range from Shoers, Chore, Shorland, Schorr, Shorr, Schore, and Schwarz.
Famous people with the name Shor
- Ryan Shor: American Commercial Real Estate Developer
- Anders Shor: American Psychologist
- Josh Shor: American Real Estate Entrepreneur
- Dov Shor: Lead Developer at Ubisoft
- Virginia Shor: Artist and Photographer
- Gabriel Shor: Israeli Director and Screenwriter
- Rochelle Shor: Canadian Television Producer and Writer
- Ruth Shor: British Cinematographer
- Pablo Shor: Israeli Film Producer and Actor
- Keren Shor: Israeli Executive Producer and Film Director