SHIRES Family History

Recorded in many forms including Shear, Shears, Sheer, Sherr, Shire, Shires, Shiers, and Shyres, this is an English surname. There are two possible origins for this surname, which although widely through England is specifically associated with the county of Yorkshire. Firstly, it may be a baptismal name of endearment for a beautiful or radiant child, or one with golden hair. As such it derives from the Old English pre 7th century word "scir", which translates as 'bright or fair'. Alternatively, it could be locational and mean "at the shire", a division or territory, and describe a person who was resident at such a place.