Surname Southey - Meaning and Origin
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Southey: What does the surname Southey mean?
Southey is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is derived from the Old English words "sūþ" meaning "south" and "ēg" meaning "island," or "water meadow." Essentially, it could be suggesting someone from the 'southern island' or someone who lived near the south meadow or a water meadow in the south. The name could also possibly denote a person from a place called Southey, like the village Southey in Sheffield, UK. The name gained prominence due to figure like Robert Southey, an English poet of the Romantic school, who was one of the so-called "Lake Poets", and England's poet laureate between 1813 until his death in 1843. As with most surnames, specific meanings can vary based on geographical region and lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisSouthey: Where does the name Southey come from?
The last name Southey is of English origin and is most common today in the United Kingdom. Records of the name Southey in England date back as far as 1273, with references recorded in the counties of Essex, Norfolk, Oxford, Suffolk, and Hertford to name a few.
The surname Southey has been most common in the south-eastern part of England, especially around the counties of Sussex and Kent. In the 1881 UK census, the surname Southey was primarily located in London, with people bearing that name living in the boroughs of Kensington, Hampstead, Islington, Greenwich, and Camden.
The most well-known bearer of the surname Southey was the English poet Robert Southey. Other prominent Southeys include Mary Ann Southey, an abolitionist and the daughter of the poet, and John Southey, a diplomat and army officer who was knighted by George III for his services.
The current population of Southeys in the United Kingdom is not known, but estimated to be relatively small. In addition to England, the surname is also found in small numbers across many English-speaking countries, such as Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Southey
The surname Southey is derived from the Old English personal name of Southa, which denotes a person from the south. It is found predominantly in England, but can also be seen in other parts of the United Kingdom, including Scotland and Wales, as well as certain parts of Australia, New Zealand, and North America. The variants of this surname include Southing(e), Southy, Southie, and Soothey.
The spelling of the name varies as well. It is often seen as Sowthee, Sowthy, Southa, Southay, and Sowtheye. Other spellings of the surname include Suchay, Issowthee, and Sonthery.
The surname has also taken on different forms in Scotland and Ireland, such as Southin and Southins, respectively. In Wales, the surname may take the form of Sauty, and certain Australian regions may recognize the name as Sewthie.
Finally, the surname is known by several other names, as it has been anglicized or changed in certain areas or time periods. These include Sutie, Sutty, Suadie, Suddie, Suetee, and Sudie. While the names may appear similar or even only slightly different from the original Southey, they all contain the same basic meaning of the original name.
Famous people with the name Southey
- Robert Southey: Robert Southey was a British poet, literary scholar, and Romantic author best known for his long poem “The Curse of Kehama” and the popular “The Cataract of Lodore.”
- William Southey: William Southey was a poet, novelist, and editor of the literary newspaper “The Morning Post.” He was also the brother of the popular British poet Robert Southey.
- Elinor Southey: Elinor Southey was a British editor, novelist, and poet, who was best known for her publications in the early 19th century.
- Edith Southey: Edith Southey was a British novelist and children’s writer. She was the sister-in-law of Robert Southey.
- Richard Southey: Richard Southey was an English politician and lawyer who served as the Member of Parliament for Ripon from 1799 to 1812 and from 1814 to 1818.
- Sidney Southey: Sidney Southey was an English colonial administrator and diplomat who served as the Governor of British Guiana from 1873 to 1875 and of Ceylon from 1882 to 1890.
- Monica Southey: Monica Southey was a British poet and playwright, best known for her work “The Way of All Flesh” and other pieces.
- Samuel Southey: Samuel Southey was a British poet, playwright, and novelist who was a friend of the poet William Wordsworth. He was known for his support of the Romantic Movement in literature.
- Rokeya Sultana Southey: Rokeya Sultana Southey was a Bangladeshi educator, social worker, and writer best known for her essays and novels promoting educational opportunities for women in Bangladesh.