Surname Stair - Meaning and Origin
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Stair: What does the surname Stair mean?
The surname Stair has origins in Scotland, specifically in the region of Kircudbrightshire. The name is believed to have derived from an old Scottish term for a stile, stairs, or a steep ascent. With ancient Scottish surnames, it was a common practice to use physical landmarks or geographic features as last names, which suggests that the earliest bearers of the surname Stair probably lived near or were associated with such a feature. It's also possible that the name relates to someone's occupation or residence, such as a person who lived in a house with a notable staircase or a worker who built or dealt with stairs. The most famous bearer of this name is likely John Dalrymple, the first Earl of Stair, a Scottish nobleman and politician from the late 17th century. His descendants have continued to carry this popular Scottish last name through the years.
Order DNA origin analysisStair: Where does the name Stair come from?
The last name Stair is most commonly found today in England, Scotland, and the United States. In England, the most common concentrations of the name can be found near the cities of London, Stoke-on-Trent and Liverpool. However, the surname is still relatively uncommon in England, appearing in only about 0.02% of the population. In Scotland, the Stair surname is most commonly found in Ayrshire, with some concentrations in other areas of the country as well.
In the United States, most people with the last name Stair live in Southwestern and Northeastern states, with the highest concentrations in states like Texas, Pennsylvania, and New York. Across the United States, the Stair surname appears in about 0.001% of the population according to the data from the US Census Bureau in 2020.
It is believed that the Stair surname or a variation thereof, may have also been found in Germany, Ireland, Canada, and other countries. However no records have been found to confirm the presence of the Stair surname in these countries in past centuries.
The origin of the Stair surname is unknown but it is thought to have originated in Scotland or Northern England, with the first person with that name believed to have been born in about the 15th century.
Variations of the surname Stair
The surname Stair is a variation of the name Stayer, which originated in Germany. It is derived from the Germanic word 'staecer', meaning 'dweller', and can be found in records as early as the 1300s. Spellings of the surname Stair include Stayer, Staer, Staier, Staerer, Staayr, and Staayrer. The surname was also used as a nickname for someone who was tall or strong, hence variations such as Stairman, Staertmann, Staierman, Stairmann, Stayerman, and Staayerman.
Outside of Germany, the surname Stair/Stayer can be found in countries such as the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Spelling variations may also change depending on the country. For example, in Spain and Latin American countries, the surname may be found as Estaire/Estayer and in France and French-speaking countries it is often spelled Estaire/Estayer as well.
Surnames with similar origin and spelling include Stairman, Stairmann, Stayerman, Staierman, Staertmann, Staayr, and Staayrer. Surnames with similar pronunciation but differing spellings include Starr and Starrs. Some variants have evolved over time which have rearranged the spelling of the surname, such as Steir, Stiar, Rastair, and Stallar.
In short, the surname Stair/Stayer has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Different spelling variations may appear depending on the country or language, and some variants have evolved over time.
Famous people with the name Stair
- Mcmillan Stair: Former American football running back
- John Stair Gilliland: Scottish amateur footballer
- Jim Stair: American Major League baseball pitcher
- Brian Stair: American College basketball player
- Greg Stair: American former Professional basketball player
- John Stair Baillie: Scottish academic
- Craig Stair: American former Major League Baseball player
- Reagan Stair: American Entrepreneur, Author, Angel Investor
- Sam Stairs: Canadian singer-songwriter 10.Adam Stair: American Republican politician 11.John Stair: American former Professional baseball player 12.Fay Stair: American former Professional baseball player 13.Jeff Stair: American thrower in track and field athletics 14.Lynn Stair: American Rogaine runner 15.Brian Stair: American former professional baseball pitcher 16.Glen Stair: American former professional basketball player 17.Curtis Stair: American former Major League baseball pitcher 18.William Stair: Politician, political informant, and merchant leader in British India 19.Norman Stair: American public relations executive 20.John Stair: Irish physician and naturalist 21.George Stair: British Sergeant with the Angus Squadron in World War I 22.Seth Stair: American former professional baseball player 23.Dan Stair: American former professional baseball player.