First found in Essex where they were seated as Lords of the Manor of Colchester from very ancient times, some say from the reign of King Edmund Ironside in 1016, but this date conflicts with the more likely source of Serez, in the arrondisement of Evreux in Normandy, supporting the contention that the family were granted these lands after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. They were seated there continuously from the conquest to 1770.

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Sear or a variant listed above: George Sears who landed in America in 1746; Joseph Sears settled in Virginia in 1743; Elizabeth Sears settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1820; James Sears settled in New York State in 1823.

Motto Translated: Honor and fidelity.

For more information on the last name Sear, the PDF Surname History is available for purchase as well as other products.