This interesting name is a variant form of the surname Sayer, which has a number of known origins, the first of which is from the medieval personal name 'Saher' or 'Seir', derived from the Norman name 'Sigiheri' introduced into England after the Conquest of 1066, and meaning 'victory - army'. A second origin is from the medieval occupational name for a wood cutter, derived from the Middle English 'saghier', and a third from Middle English 'say(en)' or 'seycen', to say, and a job - descriptive word for a professional reciter. A fourth origin is from the medieval occupation of assaying metals or tasting food, derived from the Old French 'essay', trial or test, in Middle English 'assayer'. The modern surname has a variety of forms, ranging from Sayer(s), Sayre and Saer to Sear(s) and Seear. Among the recordings of the name in London is that of the marriage of John Seear and Jane Perrin, at St. Bride's, Fleet Street, on June 30th 1639. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard le Saer, witness, which was dated 1204, The Assize Rolls of Yorkshire, during the reign of King John, known as 'Lackland', 1199 - 1216. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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