Surname Sapir - Meaning and Origin
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Sapir: What does the surname Sapir mean?
The surname Sapir is a Jewish name, originating from Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The root of the name comes from the Hebrew word Sephar, which means "book". This is indicative of the highly learned, intellectual origins of the Sapir family, with the surname being traditionally held by respected community leaders and scholars.
In the Ashkenazi Jewish community, the Sapir name is common and dates back to at least the seventeenth century. The name is also found through the Sephardic Jewish diaspora, with a large concentration of family members located in present-day Israel. The Sapir family is known to have been prominent in Lithuanian Jewish history and some of their more famous descendants include linguist Edward Sapir and author/activist Chaim Potok.
The Sapir surname is evocative of a proud heritage of scholarship and has long been associated with success in various fields, from literature to business. Members of the family have made numerous contributions to their communities and the world at large, all the while continuing to serve as a source of inspiration and pride.
Order DNA origin analysisSapir: Where does the name Sapir come from?
The surname Sapir is most commonly found today amongst Jews and Israelis, who are the descendants of the "original" Sapir family. This family originated in Russia and Eastern Europe sometime between the 13th and 14th centuries.
When the Sapir family migrated to Israel around the 1950s, their surname spread quickly due to their large numbers of descendants. They became a prominent background in the Middle Eastern culture, and their surname is still recognized today throughout Israel.
The surname can also be found in non-Jewish people, mainly in Scandinavian countries which had strong ties to the Jewish migration of the 1950s. As more Jewish people emigrated from Israel, the Sapir surname became more widespread.
Outside of Israel and Scandinavia, the surname Sapir can also be found in North America. As many Jewish people moved to Canada and the United States throughout the 1900s and 2000s, their surnames, including Sapir, followed. This has led to a much larger distribution of the name, although much less concentrated than in Israel.
Due to its Jewish and Israeli roots, Sapir is considered a relatively uncommon surname. In the 2010 United States Census, less than 2,000 people had the surname. In the United Kingdom, only around 400 people had it in 2011, while it was even less popular in Australia with only 81 people having it in 2016. This shows that, while the surname is widespread, it is far from being one of the most popular names around the world.
Variations of the surname Sapir
Sapir is an Ashkenazi Jewish surname of Yiddish, Hebrew, German and/or Slavic origin, derived from the Hebrew word 'Sapir' meaning 'sapphire'. It is the surname of many prominent individuals, such as the late Lev Sapir, pioneering psychotherapist and founder of the Gestalt School of psychotherapy, and the late Edward Sapir, one of the founders of the field of linguistics.
Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Sapir include Sapira, Sapiro, Zappara, Zapparo, Sappira, and Saffir. Additionally, some variant of the surname could be shortened to Sap or Sapper. Some modern day Sapir’s may also spell the name as Sapire, Sappir, or Seepir.
In many countries, Sapir surname variations have evolved over the centuries; for example, in France and Italy, Sapir may also often be spelled Sapero. Similarly, in Spain Sapir is often written as Saper.
Due to continuous immigration and emigration of the Sapir family, alternate versions of the name appear in different countries and the spelling of the surname may vary depending on the country. For instance, in Jewish families, Sapir can be spelt as separated words - Sapir Hof - or without spaces - SapirHof - depending on the family tradition.
In summary, Sapir is the main origin of this surname, but can be written in many other ways, depending on the country and family traditions. Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Sapira, Sapiro, Zappara, Zapparo, Sappira, Saffir, Sapire, Sappir, Seepir, Sapero, and Saper. Additionally, some variant of the surname can be shortened to Sap or Sapper.
Famous people with the name Sapir
- Edward Sapir: (January 26, 1884– February 4, 1939) was an American anthropologist-linguist. He is considered one of the most important figures in the early development of the discipline of linguistics, along with Ferdinand de Saussure.
- Paul Sapir: (January 1, 1938–January 13, 2016) was an American civil engineer and construction executive.
- John Sapir: (1931–1982) was a Soviet-born American theoretical physicist.
- Yehoshua Sapir: (Born 1932) is an Israeli author, poet and professor of literature.
- Danny Sapir: (Born 1972) is an Israeli TV and film actor.
- Saar Sapir: (Born 1980) is an Israeli former Paralympic swimmer.
- Abraham Sapir: (February 5, 1884: April 18, 1939) was a Canadian anthropologist and linguist of Lithuanian origin.
- Sarah Sapir: (Born 1985) is an American real estate agent and former professional wrestler.
- Miriam Sapir: (1903–1996) was a Jewish kids' book writer, translator and poet.
- Jacob Sapir: (1907–1984) was a Jewish-Moroccan linguist, writer and poet.