Soar History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Soar family

The surname Soar was first found in Dorset where John and Roger de Sor were listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1195. 1

The name could have also been a nickname as in " 'the sor,' the sore, the susceptible to wounded feelings, the sensitive. But much more probably one of the endless nicknames from the complexion of the hair, from Old French sor, the diminutive of which was Sorel, a reddish-brown, hence a favourite name for a horse. " 2

After the first listing in Dorset, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Elena la Sore in Somerset 2 and Kirby's Quest noted: "Matheu le Sore, Close Rolls, 26 Edward III; Philip le Soor, Somerset, 1 Edward III; and Roger le Sor, Somerset, 1 Edward III. " 3 All three entries were "1 Edward III" or in other words, "in the first year of King Edward III's reign."

One source notes that the name was a "location name in Lincolnshire," 4 but we can find no such listing. And another source notes that it was "a river in Leicestershire," 5 but again, we can find no such river.

Variants of the name are somewhat universal in that they can be found in France, Portugal and Romania. The Soare variant is a fairly popular Romanian name and Soares is often of Portuguese descent. And, Raoul II (died 1282), called Sores or d'Estrée, was the marshal of France briefly in 1270. Accordingly, each of these names would have a different origin.

Early History of the Soar family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Soar research. Another 126 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1327, 1555, 1570 and 1605 are included under the topic Early Soar History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Soar Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Sor, Soar, Soares, Soor, Soors, Soars, Sore and many more.

Early Notables of the Soar family

Distinguished members of the family include John le Soor, who held lands in Suffolk and was listed in the Subsidy Rolls there in 1327. 1Jacques de Sores was a French pirate who attacked and...
Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Soar Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Soar migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Soar Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

James P. Soar, aged 26, a plumber, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Sir Edward Parry" 6
Thomas Soar, aged 42, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Cheapside" 7
T. Soar, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cheapside" in 1849 7

Soar migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Soar Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. George Soar, (b. 1814), aged 36, British gardener travelling from London aboard the ship "Randolph" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand in September 1850 8
Mrs. Sarah Soar, (b. 1818), aged 32, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Randolph" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand in September 1850 8
Mr. William Soar, (b. 1849), aged 1, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Randolph" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand in September 1850 8
Mary L. Soar, aged 25, a cook, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ionic" in 1884

Contemporary Notables of the name Soar (post 1700) +

Albert Henry "Hank" Soar (1914-2001), American NFL football running back and defensive back who played nine seasons for the New York Giants (1937–1944, 1946), and caught the game-winning touchdown pass in the 1938 NFL Championship Game
Captain Reginald Rhys Soar DSC (1893-1971), British flying ace during World War I credited with 12 official aerial victories won while serving in the Dardanelles and along the English Channel
Thomas Soar (1865-1939), English first-class cricketer from Whitemoor, Nottinghamshire who played for Carmarthenshire (1908-1911) and Hampshire (1888-1904)
Tim Soar, British fashion designer, graphic designer, event planner and DJ
Admiral Sir Trevor Alan Soar KCB OBE DL (b. 1957), British Naval officer from Belper, Derbyshire, former Commander-in-Chief Fleet of the Royal Navy

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The SIR EDWARD PARRY 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849SirEdwardParry.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The CHEAPSIDE 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Cheapside.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html